Archaeologists unearth an unusual stone statue from one of the oldest stone structures in the Egyptian Saqqara cemetery.
The statue was left on the beach of time by a serious robber, and the statue was discovered by archaeologists working at GISR El-Mudir in 2021, but news about the work was only detailed earlier this year by Zahi Hawass and Sarah Abdoh. Egyptian Archaeology Journal. They believe the statue depicts an ancient family.
The central figure is the aristocrat in costumes traditionally associated with elites of the period. He insisted on his left foot standing in line with the artistic traditions of the old kingdom. Emphasizing his well-defined upper body aims to show the person’s eternal vitality.
A woman believed to be his wife carved with him next to him, a private gesture interpreted by experts as a sign of loyalty and company. She kneeled on her feet, her arms wrapped around his legs, and she seemed to be wearing traditional outfits to align with the old kingdom.
The third character, known as the couple’s young daughter, appears behind the man’s legs, grabs his father with his right arm, and the other holds a goose. Traditionally, goose represents the product that will last forever in the afterlife. However, most notably, the way girls carve is different. Instead of fully entering the circle, she surfaced and was carved on the surface of the stone.
This description is not uncommon in the ancient Egyptian grave scene, but any further context about the artifact has been lost as it is removed from its original funeral location. The researchers then compared the statue with other known graves and discoveries at the same time and location.
They determined that limestone carvings were unprecedented among family statues of that period, and therefore, the GISR El-Mudir statue was the only known example of similar art experiments. It ultimately commemorates the life, values and artistic innovations that defined the old Egyptian kingdom.
