Wooden Statues of Merti and His Wife

These two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were something my Nonno always made sure I appreciated when we went to the MET. My Nonno loved the Egyptian pieces that were made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 because wood is difficult to preserve. Since wood is organic, in heat and humidity it will break down, especially over thousands of years. He always wanted me to appreciate how well preserved these two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues were!

These two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are from the 5th Dynasty and depicts the Governor Merti and his wife. They are both wearing wigs and nice clothing garments. Eleven 𓎆𓏺 wooden statues were found in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 at Saqqara and all of them were in incredible condition.

Though it is difficult to see in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Merti is carrying the Sekhem Scepter, depicted similarly by the hieroglyph 𓌂, which translates to “power.” That particular hieroglyphic symbol is also part of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Sekhmet’s 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 name, and her name translates to “she of might.”