A block statue of the priest Montu
A block statue of the priest Montu.. a witness to the greatness of ancient Egyptian art
In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there is a stunning block statue of a priest named Hoor bin Ankh Khensu, dating back to the twenty-fifth dynasty. The statue is 51 cm. The priest appears calmly dressed in wigs, holding a symbolic staff in his hand. On the surface of the statue, six lines of hieroglyphs are engraved mentioning the name of the priest, his ancestors, and his surname, and containing prayers to the gods. The reliefs cover the back pillar of the statue, and on its base are engraved with the formula of offerings to Amun-Ra. Discovered in the crypt of Karnak, this statue represents an artistic style that spread from the Middle Kingdom to the Late Period. The block statues are made of a cubic block from which only the head protrudes, in which the thighs are raised to the chest, and the arms are intertwined to the knees. This form was less expensive and more durable than other statues, and provided a lot of space for writing. This statue is a testament to the magnificence of sculpture in ancient Egypt, and to the pharaohs' respect for religion and culture.
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