Statue of Minemheb

c. 1391–1353 BCE

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III

(1390–1352 BCE)

Medium

granodiorite

Measurements

Overall: 45 x 16.6 x 28.3 cm (17 11/16 x 6 9/16 x 11 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1996.28

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Location

107 Egyptian

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Did You Know?

The baboon in this sculpture is the god Thoth in one of his animal forms.

Description

Minemheb was one of the many court officials who helped prepare for Amenhotep III's 30-year jubilee festival. Clearly, Minemheb regarded this as the high point of his career, since his title as chief of construction for the jubilee temple is the primary one provided on this statue. It is actually a statue within a statue: Minemheb kneels to present a small altar, upon which squats a statue of the god Thoth in baboon form. Carved in extremely hard stone, Minemheb's statue is nonetheless carefully detailed and superbly modeled. Special attention was given to the rendering of the baboon's face. The heavy-lidded eyes and furrowed brow give the animal an almost contemplative expression.