Squatting figure of Sahathor

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Squatting figure of Sahathor
material Granodiorite
Dimensions H. 33.8 cm; W. 20.2 cm; T. 22.5 cm;
origin unknown
time Middle Kingdom , Dynasty 12 , 2050-1800 BC Chr.
place Hildesheim , Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum , PM 10

The squatting figure of Sahathor ("son of Hathor"), an example of a type of statue that is characteristic of the Middle Kingdom , belongs to the Egyptian collection of the Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim . It is dated to the 12th dynasty , around 2050 to 1800 BC. Dated. The figure depicts the “head of the manufacturing plants for God's sacrifice”, a stout man, crouching with his legs crossed, his hands stretched out flat on his concealed thighs in a prayer gesture.

Location

The location of the statue is unknown. It was acquired in the Egyptian art trade and belonged to the collection of Wilhelm Pelizaeus in Cairo before 1907 . Since 1909 it has been part of a donation to his hometown in Hildesheim.

description

The seated figure is made of dark granodiorite , is 33.8 cm high, 20.2 cm wide and 22.5 cm deep.

While in the Old Kingdom round sculptural portraits were mostly hidden in the darkness of the burial chambers, in the Middle Kingdom privileged members of the court and administration were allowed by the king to set up small-format representations of themselves in the temple. The seated figure of Sahathor is probably such a statue.

The obese man sits upright with folds of prosperity on his torso and legs crossed on a base plate, the corners of which are rounded. He wears a long apron with a flap that covers the legs and is knotted above the waist. The loop and the edge of the flap of the apron are carefully illustrated. The hands are stretched out on the thighs in a prayer position, thus clarifying the position of the figure in a sanctuary, the guarantee for a permanent participation of the official in the sacrifice and cult events. As is customary in the Middle Kingdom, the smooth surface of the stretched fabric is used as a writing medium, similar to that on the papyrus rolls of the scribes of the Old Kingdom. On the lap is a sacrificial prayer to Osiris as well as the name, descent and title of the Sahathor. On his broad head, Sahathor wears a sweeping strand wig that reaches down to the shoulders. It is badly damaged in the crown area and on the forehead. The man's face is marked by slightly suggested age features, which - in a softened form - are based on the portrait of a king characteristic of the later 12th dynasty. Part of the tip of the nose has broken off. The emphasis on the large ears in order to ensure their functionality for a life beyond is found in this depiction of officials as well as in the royal sculpture.

literature

  • Günther Roeder , Albert Ippel : The monuments of the Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim. Curtius, Berlin 1921, p. 70.
  • Hans Kayser : The Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim . Cram, de Gruyter, Hamburg 1966, p. 26 and 55 (fig. 19 granite statue of Sa-Hathor).
  • Hans Kayser: The Egyptian antiquities in the Roemer-Pelizaeus-Museum in Hildesheim. Gerstenberg, Hildesheim 1973, ISBN 3-8067-8002-1 , p. 54 (granite statue of the “head of the granaries of the sacrifice of God Sithathor, the son of Cherti”) and Fig. 37 (Sithathor).
  • Bettina Schmitz : Pharaohs and officials manage Egypt . In: Pelizaeus Museum Hildesheim (=  museum ). Westermann, December 1979, ISSN  0341-8634 , p. 42 and Fig. 39 (Sa-Hathor, “Head of the granary for God's sacrifice”).
  • Wilfried Seipel : Seated figure of Sa-Hathor . In: Pictures for Eternity. 3000 years of Egyptian art . Stadler, Konstanz 1983, ISBN 3-7977-0105-5 , p. 88–89 (catalog for the exhibition in Heidelberg Castle from June 2 to August 28, 1983).
  • Bernd Krimmel: Symmetry in Art, Nature and Science. Volume 2: Art. (= Catalog number 128; exhibition halls Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt). Darmstadt 1986.
  • Arne Eggebrecht (Ed.): Pelizaeus Museum Hildesheim. The Egyptian Collection. von Zabern, Mainz 1993, ISBN 3-8053-1579-1 , p. 46 and Fig. 36.
  • Martin von Falck: Horus and Savior - The religion in ancient Egypt . In: Katja Lembke (ed.): Life on the Nile and everyday life in ancient Egypt (=  The ancient Egypt in Hildesheim ). tape 2 . von Zabern, Darmstadt / Mainz 2011, ISBN 978-3-8053-4285-8 , p. 12 (catalog for the permanent exhibition).
  • Martin von Falck: crouching figure of Sa-Hathor . In: Katja Lembke (Ed.): Life on the Nile and everyday life in ancient Egypt . S. 56-57 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum Hildesheim: Inventory number PM 10