Throne of Menkaura's Statue
Lower part of seated statue of King Menkaura (Mycerinus)
Egypt, Dynasty 4, 2490–2472 B.C.E.
Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition 1909, MFA #09.202
Photos © Joan Ann Lansberry


Part of one foot and base is infill...

"The figure is broken but it's the throne that matters here. Carved in exquisite sunk relief, the sides show two falcons hovering protectively over the king's names. Below is the ancient Egyptian 'coat of arms' in which the gods of the two halves of the country symbolically tie the lily of Upper Egypt (the south) and the papyrus of Lower Egypt (the north) around the hieroglyph for 'to unite,' the whole reading 'Uniting the Two Lands.' A simpler version of the scene, without the deities, is carved on the back, below the kings name." (From info card)



"The sema hieroglyph represents two lungs attached to the trachea, an anatomical unit which provided a natural symbol for the concept of the unification of equal parts, and particularly, the unification of the two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt. The union of the Two Lands stood behind much of the ritual and idealogy of Egyptian kingship, and the sema hieroglyph is found in a wide range of contexts which underscored the king's uniting rule." (Quote and illustrations from _Reading Egyptian Art_ by Richard Wilkinson, pages 80-81)


My photo of the back isn't very clear, so I've included a museum photo to clarify:


If you're thinking Wilkinson's illustration of "sema" really resembles the back of this piece, you're right. MFA #09.202 is the source from which his line drawing was made.


"Boston statue and companion statue (in Cairo Museum) at expedition camp shortly after excavation, 1908.
Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition photo B374_NS
Photographer: George Andrew Reisner


Menkaura's cartouche...
All photos © Joan Ann Lansberry, unless otherwise stated.