Egyptian official in-charge of farming

A wealthy official from ancient Egypt strides vigorously forward to meet us. Yet Meryra-ha-ishetef, overseer of farmers, is already dead. This lively, expressive statue was made for the tomb, to carry his soul in the afterlife. Clearly a rich man, he is carved from a single piece of exotic imported ebony. His pose is typically male: women were usually shown standing, feet together.

His statue embodies core ideas and concerns of the ancient civilisations shown in this gallery — agricultural wealth and trade; fragility of life and nearness of death; religious and social structures; artistic conventions – and at the centre, the human story. This desire to capture the human form is constant. Today, social media, selfies, and advertisements show our urge not to be forgotten.