Gilded Wooden Statue of Ptah

This finely gilded wooden statue represents Ptah, the ancient Egyptian god of craftsmen, artists, and architects, and revered as a lord of creation. He was especially venerated in the city of Memphis, which served as Egypt’s administrative capital around 3000 B.C., during the time of unification. Known in antiquity as Ineb-hedj or “White Walls”, Memphis played a pivotal role in establishing Ptah’s prominence, elevating him from a local deity to one of national significance.

The statue is one of twenty-eight wooden effigies of deities discovered within black-painted wooden shrines, each carefully wrapped in linen. These sacred figures were intended to protect the king—Tutankhamun—on his perilous journey through the underworld, ensuring his safe passage to the afterlife.

Ptah is depicted in a close-fitting robe adorned with stylised feathers and a broad collar necklace. His head is covered with a blue faience skullcap, while his eyes and eyebrows are inlaid with faience and stone, giving them a vivid, lifelike appearance. In his hands, he holds a composite staff combining three powerful symbols: the Was sceptre (symbol of dominion), the Djed pillar (representing stability), and the Ankh (emblem of life).

Ptah is considered one of the most ancient gods in the Egyptian pantheon, with references to his worship dating as far back as the 1st Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 B.C.). Over the centuries, his influence expanded, and he came to be regarded as a creator god who conceived the world through the power of thought and speech.

In mythology, Ptah’s divine consort was the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, associated with war and healing. Together with their son Nefertem, the god of the rising sun and fragrant oils, they formed a powerful triad particularly honoured in the Memphite region.

This statue, now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, was among the remarkable treasures discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun—one of the most well-preserved royal burials in the Valley of the Kings.