4th Dynasty

Seated Statues of Rahotep and Nofret

Seated Statues of Rahotep and Nofret

Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret life-like painted limestone statues are considered among the most famous private statues from ancient Egypt. The statues were discovered in the mastaba tomb (a tomb in the form of a rectangular platform) of Rahotep, north of the pyramid of Snefru, in Meidum, dating to the reign of King Snefru...

Statuette of King Khufu

Statuette of King Khufu

The Khufu Statuette or the Ivory figurine of Khufu is an ancient Egyptian statue. Historically and archaeologically significant, it was found in 1903 by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie during excavation of Kom el-Sultan in Abydos. Despite the discovery of a few other small fragments of the king’s statues and statuettes, this ivory statuette is...

Magic knife (peseshkef) inscribed for King Khufu

Magic knife (peseshkef) inscribed for King Khufu

Fine-grained flint wand inscribed with the name of Khufu. Ritual wands were used in the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony; this particular object would have been used on the statues of Menkaure in his valley temple at Giza. Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, reign of Khufu, ca. 2551–2528 BC. Now in the Museum of Fine Arts,...

Tomb Chapel of Queen Meresankh III

Tomb Chapel of Queen Meresankh III

“She held the royal titles of King’s Daughter and King’s Wife, Great of Scepter. On April 23, 1927 the tomb was discovered and excavated by George Reisner. with subsequent excavations undertaken by his team on behalf of Harvard University and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. They found extraordinarily preserved statuary and colorful relief sculpture...

Group of Archers

Relief of a Group of Archers

This fragment of relief of a group of archers shows one of the most elaborately composed scenes preserved from the Old Kingdom. A careful examination reveals parts of at least four archers, three standing and one kneeling below them, his extended left arm and the upper part of his head just visible along the lower...

Stele of Princess Nefertiabet and her Food

Stele of Princess Nefertiabet

The King’s relatives, such as Princess Nefertiabet, Khufu’s daughter—depicted on this relief stele found in her tomb (G 1225) in Giza—were buried beside the sovereign’s pyramid. Nefertiabet is shown seated facing right. She is depicted with a long wig and a panther-skin garment. An offering table in front of her bears reeds, as is common,...

Statue of King Sneferu

Statue of King Sneferu

In this statue, King Sneferu, the founder of the 4th Dynasty, can be seen wearing the White Hedjet Crown of Upper Egypt, and a collar around his neck. He wears a short kilt, which is carved in detail and tied by a belt. The cartouche of king Senferu can be seen at the center of...

Statue of the dwarf Perniankhu

Statue of the dwarf Perniankhu

The dwarf Perniankhu is wearing a traditional, curled wig; his face is strong and displays a quiet serenity, strength and power. His eyes are framed in black and the eyebrows are well-defined. The right hand is placed upon his right thigh and holds the sekhem-scepter, his left hand, across his chest, holds a long staff....

Triad of King Menkaure

Triad of Menkaure

This sculpted triad, a three-person statue, shows King Menkaure between two ladies. The goddess Hathor is on his right and goddess (Bat) the personification of Cynopolis, the 17th nome of Upper Egypt, is on his left. He wears the crown of Upper Egypt and has a false beard. He wears the short pleated Shendyt kilt...

Triad of King Menkaure

Triads of Menkaure

These three schist triads of Menkaure were found by the Egyptologist George Reisner in the valley temple of Menkaure near his pyramid in Giza. Menkaure was the fifth king of the 4th Dynasty. These are the oldest triads in the history of ancient Egyptian statuary. 1- The king can be seen standing, the muscles of...