Old Kingdom

Alabaster Heb Sed Vase

Heb Sed Vase

This alabaster vase is connected with the Heb Sed festival, during which the king would repeat his coronation rituals by sitting on the thrones of Upper and Lower Egypt – seen here at the base of the handle. These thrones were within a pavilion on a stepped platform that symbolized the primeval mound of creation....

Statue of a Seated Scribe

Statue of a Seated Scribe

This seated scribe statue is considered to be the icon of all scribe statues and one of the most important symbols of sculpture at the Egyptian Museum. It is called the “Cairo Scribe” and is carved in painted limestone. It was unearthed in 1893 at the Saqqara necropolis. The scribe wears a wig with a...

Statue of Kaemked

Kneeling Statue of Kaemked

The statue depicts Urini’s funerary priest, Kaemked kneeling in a position of worship, clasping his hands on his knees, wearing a short kilt, tied with a belt. This is one of many statues found in the tomb of the Treasurer Urini at Saqqara. A copper frame emphasizes his eyes, while his pupils are inlaid with...

Seated Statue of King Djoser

Statue of King Djoser

This statue was found in a closed room called Serdab, northeast of the funerary complex of King Djoser at Saqqara. It is believed that the statue of Djoser is the oldest known life-sized Egyptian statue. It depicts King Djoser himself, seated on his throne and enveloped in a jubilee cloak. The ka statue of king...

The Meidum Geese

Meidum Geese

This part of a wall painting of geese was found in the Mastaba of Nefermaat and his wife, Itet, at Meidum where it decorated the lower part of one of the walls in the passage leading to Itet’s chapel. The colors used here derived from natural materials: white from limestone, red from hematite and green...