This Middle Kingdom era piece is so cool – well actually, itβs two π» separate pieces! This is a statue ππ ±ππΎ of a man πππ€ named ππ Sehetepib, which is sitting on top of a small πππ΄π © offering table πππ ‘πΏπ!Β
The statue ππ ±ππΎ is made of graywacke π·ππππ while the offering table πππ ‘πΏπ is made of limestone ππππ. I love the contrast of colors between the dark graywacke π·ππππ and the light limestone ππππ – it really makes both the statue ππ ±ππΎ and the offering table πππ ‘πΏπ stand out against each other!
This piece was found in the shaft of a tomb ππ«ππ in Memphis π ππ€πππ΄π, but it was most likely originally placed in an above ground chapel. What was the point of putting the offering table πππ ‘πΏπ in a chapel outside of the tomb ππ«ππ? Essentially, the offering table πππ ‘πΏπ allows for the ka π of the deceased π ππ± to continue to receive offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ so the ka π can continue to be sustained even after death π ππ±!
If you look at the front of the offering table πππ ‘πΏπ, there are offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ carved into the limestone! These are symbolic offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ that would continue to sustain the soul π of Sehetepib even when real offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ stopped being placed in his tombβs ππ«ππ chapel! One of the offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ is definitely bread π, but I donβt know what the rest are! The circles could be anything!!
Sehetepibβs name ππ and titles are written down the front of the statue ππ ±ππΎ (on his skirt), but I canβt make out the individual hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! The only phrase I can see clearly is βFor the Soul of πππβ and then Sehetepibβs name ππ should follow that!Β I wish I could see more of the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, but sometimes with ancient objects such as this one, it’s not always easy!