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Ancient Egyptian — Fragment of a Stela of Neferhotep

Ancient Egyptian

Fragment of a Stela of Neferhotep

-1239

The hieroglyphs at the top of this stela (commemorative stone) fragment help identify the man depicted as Neferhotep, a foreman of the workers who built and decorated the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes. Neferhotep, who is finely dressed in pleated white garments, raises his hands before him in a gesture of adoration toward the deity, who would have been depicted in the upper portion of the stone. Stelae such as this one allowed nonroyal Egyptians to demonstrate their devotion to the gods.

Medium
Limestone and pigment
Dimensions

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Ancient Egyptian, Fragment of a Stela of Neferhotep, -1239

The hieroglyphs at the top of this stela (commemorative stone) fragment help identify the man depicted as Neferhotep, a foreman of the workers who built and decorated the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes. Neferhotep, who is finely dressed in pleated white garments, raises his hands before him in a gesture of adoration toward the deity, who would have been depicted in the upper portion of the stone. Stelae such as this one allowed nonroyal Egyptians to demonstrate their devotion to the gods.

Medium
Limestone and pigment
Dimensions
23.8 x 5.8 cm
Year
-1239
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Small Scale, Unique Work

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Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago