Collection record · Objects & craft
Head of King Userkaf
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated c. 2454–2447 BCE. Recorded culture or place: Egypt, Old Kingdom (2647–2124 BCE), Dynasty 5, reign of Userkaf (2496–2491 BCE).
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A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Head of King Userkaf
- Date
- c. 2454–2447 BCE
- Culture / origin
- Egypt, Old Kingdom (2647–2124 BCE), Dynasty 5, reign of Userkaf (2496–2491 BCE)
- Materials and technique
- painted limestone
- Dimensions
- Overall: 6.5 x 7.2 cm (2 9/16 x 2 13/16 in.); Face: 4.8 x 4.8 cm (1 7/8 x 1 7/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1979.2
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
Despite the monumental achievements of the Old Kingdom’s Pyramid Age, few images of its rulers survive. This head has been identified as King Userkaf, the first king of Dynasty 5. Userkaf built a modest pyramid at Saqqara and a temple to the sun god Ra at Abusir. According to later tradition, the first three kings of Dynasty 5 were the children of Ra himself and a mortal woman. From Userkaf’s reign on, the kings of Egypt were called "Sons of Ra." Here, Userkaf wears the two basic items of regalia that identify him as king: the tall, conical White Crown of Upper (southern) Egypt, and the royal false beard.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund · 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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