DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0055
TOMB STATUES OF THE MEMPHITIC OR ANCIENT EMPIRE.
lng the prominent part played by the chief baker in the story of Joseph in
-Lgypt. Not infrequently their wives, sisters, and children appear with these
lords of the land. We see these tomb-figures in various positions, some seated
on high chairs, others on the ground with
legs crossed, and having on their knees a
partly unrolled papyrus, doubtless repre-
senting the "Book of the Dead," for the
guidance of departed souls : again, they ap-
pear writing, like the famous Scribe in the
■Louvre. Occasionally they are found kneel-
lng, with hands folded, and very frequently
standing with left foot advanced, and baton
°f command in hand, or with both hands
hanging at the side, holding papyrus-rolls.
Most ancient among these are those re-
markable limestone figures in Boolak, some-
what less than life-size, representing Ra-
hot
eP, "a prince of the blood and general
Fig. 5. Portrait Statues of Ra-fiotef) and Nefert.
Boolak. Cairo.
°t infantry," and his sister or wife in a
snow-white garment (Fig. 5). These two
statues, seated side by side, were found in a tomb at Meidoom. The archaic
°rm of this structure, and the occurrence of the name of Snefroo, first king of
the Fourth Dynasty, in a neighboring
tomb of similar build, make it certain
. 1/v . - ■• -■'■'■"-■.:£-:•■■•• -.. that these admirable statues date back
from that remotest historic past.60 In
Ra-hotep's statue, hands and feet, the
stumbling-block of the Egyptian sculp-
tor, are sadly defective ; but the close-
ly shorn head, and animated face with
its intent, upward gaze, have a forcible
naturalness, which extends as well to
the strong frame, and distended mus-
cles of the arm, raised as if gesturing.
The profile (Fig. 6) of this ancient sol-
dier, whose military glory dates from
so many thousands of years ago, awak-
ens much respect for his character,
but more for the artist who has caught
and rendered it so well. The Lady
efert (the beautiful) is simply styled the "relative of the king." Although
e sits silent, her arms folded across her chest, still, on gazing into her eyes of
Fig. 6. Profile of Ra-hotep.
lng the prominent part played by the chief baker in the story of Joseph in
-Lgypt. Not infrequently their wives, sisters, and children appear with these
lords of the land. We see these tomb-figures in various positions, some seated
on high chairs, others on the ground with
legs crossed, and having on their knees a
partly unrolled papyrus, doubtless repre-
senting the "Book of the Dead," for the
guidance of departed souls : again, they ap-
pear writing, like the famous Scribe in the
■Louvre. Occasionally they are found kneel-
lng, with hands folded, and very frequently
standing with left foot advanced, and baton
°f command in hand, or with both hands
hanging at the side, holding papyrus-rolls.
Most ancient among these are those re-
markable limestone figures in Boolak, some-
what less than life-size, representing Ra-
hot
eP, "a prince of the blood and general
Fig. 5. Portrait Statues of Ra-fiotef) and Nefert.
Boolak. Cairo.
°t infantry," and his sister or wife in a
snow-white garment (Fig. 5). These two
statues, seated side by side, were found in a tomb at Meidoom. The archaic
°rm of this structure, and the occurrence of the name of Snefroo, first king of
the Fourth Dynasty, in a neighboring
tomb of similar build, make it certain
. 1/v . - ■• -■'■'■"-■.:£-:•■■•• -.. that these admirable statues date back
from that remotest historic past.60 In
Ra-hotep's statue, hands and feet, the
stumbling-block of the Egyptian sculp-
tor, are sadly defective ; but the close-
ly shorn head, and animated face with
its intent, upward gaze, have a forcible
naturalness, which extends as well to
the strong frame, and distended mus-
cles of the arm, raised as if gesturing.
The profile (Fig. 6) of this ancient sol-
dier, whose military glory dates from
so many thousands of years ago, awak-
ens much respect for his character,
but more for the artist who has caught
and rendered it so well. The Lady
efert (the beautiful) is simply styled the "relative of the king." Although
e sits silent, her arms folded across her chest, still, on gazing into her eyes of
Fig. 6. Profile of Ra-hotep.