Stele of Qetesh
The Stele of Qetesh is a rectangular limestone monument which features a cavetto cornice at the top and is bifacial, with inscriptions and reliefs on both sides. The stele measures approximately 31.5 cm in height and 18.8 cm in width.
The central figure is Qetesh, depicted as a frontal nude woman with a Hathoric wig and a lunar disk. She stands on a lion, flanked by Min (on the left) and Resheph (on the right). Qetesh holds a snake in one hand and a lotus flower in the other.
Qetesh was a goddess who was worshiped primarily in the New Kingdom period of Egypt, and she is often associated with love, fertility, and war. She is depicted as a Canaanite goddess who was integrated into Egyptian religion and worshiped alongside Egyptian deities. Qetesh was portrayed as a nude woman standing on a lion, which symbolized her strength and dominance.
In the upper register two men are shown kneeling symmetrically, each wearing a loincloth and performing an act of adoration.
In the back side two women are depicted kneeling symmetrically, each wearing a robe and an enveloping wig, holding a cone of perfume and a sistrum. Two women are shown kneeling symmetrically, offering a vase. A single woman is depicted kneeling and performing an act of adoration.
This stele is notable for its balanced, symmetrical composition, a hallmark of Egyptian art. Both the front and back feature a clear visual structure with figures arranged in pairs, emphasizing balance and harmony, which were central values in Egyptian culture.
The hieratic scale is also in play, as the larger size of the goddess and key deities emphasizes their importance over the worshippers. This stele is a fine example of Egyptian iconography, using symbolism of animals (like the lion and the snake) to convey power and duality — strength combined with fertility, danger with beauty.
The Stele of Qetesh is also significant because it represents the integration of foreign deities into Egyptian religious practices. As a Canaanite goddess, Qetesh’s worship reflects the cosmopolitan nature of the Egyptian empire during this time, which frequently encountered and incorporated gods from other regions. The goddess’s iconography, particularly her depiction as a nude woman on a lion, is also indicative of Canaanite influence on Egyptian art and religion.
This artifact not only provides insight into Egyptian religious beliefs but also into their artistic techniques, iconography, and the role of women and fertility in their mythos.
Stelae like this one were typically used in temples, tombs, and other religious settings to commemorate events or as offering stones. They often served both a funerary and ritual purpose.
This stele is also part of a broader collection of New Kingdom stelae and other religious artifacts that showcase Egypt’s wealth of divine iconography and its fusion with other cultures.
New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, reign of Seti I – Ramesses II, ca. 1292-1213 BC. From Deir el-Medina, Thebes. Now in the Louvre. N 237
