Cleveland Museum of Art

Stele of Shemai

Date

c. 1960–1916 BCE

Medium

painted limestone

Culture

Egypt, Aswan, Qubbet el-Hawa, excavations of Lady William Cecil, 1904, "Cecil Tombs," no. 28, Middle Kingdom (2040–1648 BCE), Dynasty 12, probably reign of Senusret I (1971–1926 BCE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Two techniques of relief carving are employed here: the scene of the deceased seated before a table of offerings and its accompanying inscriptions are in raised relief, while the border inscriptions are in sunk relief. The three columns of hieroglyphs in the center read: "The one honored before Osiris, lord of Busiris, the great god, lord of Abydos, that he [the god] may give invocation-offerings of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, travertine [vases] and clothing to the ka [vital spirit] of the chief of police, Shemai, vindicated." This door-shaped stele honors a deceased chief of police named Shemai.

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