Ankh

3rd Dynasty

Two seated figures, carved in hard stone, of the noble Ankh who was a leading figure in the reign of King Djoser Netjerykhet, demonstrate how far the technique of Egyptian sculptors had progressed in the relatively short space of time between the death of King Khasekhemwy and the accession of Djoser. In one of his statues, in the collections of the Musee du Louvre, Ankh sits placidly on his throne-like chair, smiling contentedly; the other, in Leiden - a particularly fine black granite piece - portrays him in a more formal persona, dressed in a priestly leopard skin, held in place by inscribed oval ornaments.

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Last Updated: June 21st, 2011