quartzite - incised
circa 742–716 BCE
Egypt
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt
Case Title
Early Civilisations
Display Location
Rotunda
Findspot
Egypt
Measurements
54.6 x 33 x 36cm
Accession Number
EA1514
Description
The statue offers a remarkable window into the government and beliefs of ancient Egypt.
Pesshuper was a high official, administrator to Princess Amenirdis, who bore the title ‘Wife of the God Amun’. Pesshuper holds a papyrus scroll and rests an inkwell on his knee. A man of words, his lower garment has become a slate for hieroglyphs. On his right arm is the name of the Princess he serves. The other texts are intended to secure his well-being in the afterlife.
Curators Comments
Around the time of the Harappan (Sindhu-Sarasvati) Civilisation, other great civilisations flourished along the banks of mighty rivers in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. The Nile, Africa’s longest river, has sustained Egypt for thousands of years. Around 3100 BCE, Egypt was unified under one ruler who claimed divine status: the Pharaoh. Egypt’s civilisation flourished for over 3,000 years.
