Statue of a Ptolemaic King

Artefact Details

Gallery number: 49 – Ground Floor

Period: Ptolemaic Macedonian Period/Argead Dynasty, reign of Alexander IV (c. 317–310 BC)

Place of discovery: Thebes East, Karnak Temple (Ipet-Isut)

Size: H 280.00 cm W 61.00 cm D/L 106.00 cm

Material: Red granite

The mixture of Hellenistic Greek and traditional Egyptian styles are well illustrated in this colossal statue of a Ptolemaic king. The sculpture of the body is beautifully rendered, with elegantly and simply modelled idealized elements typical of Egyptian art.

The nemes crown is sharply turned at the shoulders and set back on the forehead to display the curls across the forehead. The face of the king is modelled in Hellenistic style, but maintains an idealised approach to the portrait. The round eyes are heavily rimmed and the brows are simple and his Grecian nose is long, narrow and straight. The mouth is narrow but full and the median line of the mouth is visible on the bottom lip, and he has a prominently rounded chin. He is wearing the royal shendyt kilt and stands with his left leg is forward, arms by the sides holding the traditional enigmatic cylindrical objects. This statue remains unidentified due to the lack of inscriptions.