This kneeling statue of a man, damaged in several places, is holding a shrine containing a falcon-headed deity. The man is recognizable as a High Priest of Ptah in the Great Temple of Memphis because of his hairstyle, which consists of a short curly wig with an additional tress on the right side of the head, the so-called lock of youth. This is a symbol of youthfulness for high-ranking or divine children, but in their case it hangs from a shaven head. The other indication of the man's rank is not clearly visible because it has been carved in very shallow relief and has suffered weathering. It is an animal skin, usually described as that of a dog, which is worn over the shoulder. The name of the person depicted has not been preserved in the surviving inscriptions. The style of the cutting of the round face with its fine details, large eyes, thin nose and smile all point to a date in the 3rd Intermediate Period. The statue greatly resembles a statue in Budapest of Shoshonk the son of Osorkon II, who held the post of High Priest of Memphis during the 22nd Dynasty. Perhaps the Vienna statue depicts the same person.
An offering which the king gives to Ptah, south of his wall, the Lord of Ankhtauy, so that he may give offering bread which has been presented to him on the table of the lords of eternity... Which the king gives to Osiris-Khont[amenti] ..., so that he gives, ... An offering [which the king gives to] Sokar-Osiris, who resides in the Shetit shrine, so that he may allow the entering and leaving of Rosetau and the vision of all the gods of the Netherworld to the Ka of the Hereditary Prince, the first [great one of his majesty ... An offering which the king gives to Osiris-Khontamenti, the great god and [ruler] of the living, so that he may give a funerary offering of bread and beer, of offerings, food, and all good and pure things for the first master of secrets (?) ...
Bibliography
Rogge, E., Statuen des Neuen Reiches und der Dritten Zwischenzeit. Corpus Antiquitatum Aegyptiacarum (CAA) Wien 6 (1990), 164-172.
Satzinger, H., Das Kunsthistorische Museum in Wien. Die Ägyptisch-Orientalische Sammlung. Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie 14. Mainz. 1994.
Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM). Führer durch die Sammlungen. Wien. 1988.
Satzinger, H., Ägyptische Kunst in Wien (Wien 1980).
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