Stela of Takhenemet

Painted wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 first became appeared during the 18th Dynasty, but didn’t become popular until the 21st Dynasty. This particular stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is from the 25th Dynasty and was found at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. Usually these stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 were put in the burial chamber with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 shows a woman named Takhenemet who is paying homage to the god 𓊹 Ra-Horakty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤. Ra-Horkaty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is the merging of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭. Here, Ra-Horkaty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is actually dressed like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 would be traditionally dressed. During this period, the merging of deities was very common.

What’s interesting about the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from this period is usually the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is paying homage to a god 𓊹 with help from another deity, however, here Takhenemet is not accompanied by another god 𓊹 ; she is alone. This is probably just a style change, but it is interesting to note!