Relief of Montuhotep III
Limestone, 23 11/16 x 51 9/16 x 4 1/2 in. (60.1 x 131 x 11.5 cm)
Middle Kingdom, XI Dynasty, ca. 1957-1945 B.C.E.
From Armant, Egypt
Brooklyn #37.16E, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Photo © Joan Lansberry, May 2008-2016
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Relief of Montuhotep III Limestone, 23 11/16 x 51 9/16 x 4 1/2 in. (60.1 x 131 x 11.5 cm) Middle Kingdom, XI Dynasty, ca. 1957-1945 B.C.E. From Armant, Egypt Brooklyn #37.16E, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund Photo © Joan Lansberry, May 2008-2016 |
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From the info card (also museum website): "Originally this massive limestone slab belonged to the wall of a chapel built for Montuhotep III at Armant. On the far left the king is depicted wearing a ceremonial beard and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt; on the far right he is seen in the royal head cloth known as the nemes. Between these two images we see the goddess Iunyt. The shrine's decoration probably showed the sed-festival, an ancient ritual of royal renewal traditionally held in the king's thirtieth regnal year. Montuhotep III ruled for only twelve years, so the images probably indicate the king's wish for a reign lasting at least three decades." My photo captures only a small part of this rather large relief. I also corrected for a reflection problem:
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During the twelve year reign of Montuhotep III (aka Mentuhotep III), he brought forth "architectural innovation"(1), advancing "quality and beauty"(2). This relief shows refined details not seen in earlier efforts. The goddess Iunyt (aka Iunit) who appears at the center is "consort of the war god Montu" "in the town of Armant (Hermonthis) a little to the south of Thebes. Her name means 'she of Armant', and although the goddess first appears in reliefs of Mentuhotep III of the 11th dynasty, it is thought that she may have been worshipped there from very early times."(3)
(1)_The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt_, edited by Ian Shaw, page 156 |
