Collection record · Objects & craft
Stele of Shemai
The collection record classifies this work as funerary equipment. It is dated c. 1960–1916 BCE. Recorded culture or place: 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).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Stele of Shemai
- Date
- c. 1960–1916 BCE
- Culture / origin
- 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)
- Materials and technique
- painted limestone
- Dimensions
- Overall: 83.5 x 86 x 23 cm (32 7/8 x 33 7/8 x 9 1/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1921.1017
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
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."
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Gift of Edward S. Harkness · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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