Stela of Nehemesbastet

Stela of Nehemesbastet
Stela of Nehemesbastet
 

GEM Number

2904

Collection

Main Galleries

Period

Late Period

Dynasty

26

Description

A painted limestone stela from Abydos. It belongs to Nehemesbastet daughter of Padewen and Neshathor and is dated to the reign of Psamtek I who ruled Egypt in Dynasty 26. A curved sign of the sky and a winged sun disc with two uraeus snakes fill the rounded top of the stela. Below, a nefer sign (beauty) is flanked by two wedjat eyes and two shen signs (eternity). The main scene on the stela shows Nehemesbastet followed by her father Padewen and her mother Neshathor. All three are standing, raising both arms in adoration and presenting an offering table laden with an assortment of offerings to god Re-Horakhty who stands on the left, on a pedestal in the form of the maat sign (justice). His head is topped by the sun disc fronted by a uraeus snake and his hands clasp the was sceptre (prosperity). Twelve vertical columns of hieroglyphic text, painted above the heads of the main characters in the scenes, recite an offering formula for the deceased.

Region
Upper Egypt
Area
Sohag
Limestone

Height

45 cm

Width

4.5 cm

Length

33.2 cm