Left relief from
the
tomb of Metjetji
Date: about 2371-2350
B.C. (Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, reign of Unas)
Medium: painted limestone
Provenance: Sakkara, Egypt; probably west of the Step Pyramid of
Djoser (area explored earlier by Firth [Ziegler, Age of Pyramids
408]).
Relief accession number: 52-7/1
Dimensions: height 56”, width 30 1/2”
Condition: very good. Modern fill: bottom of relief; area before staff, from bottom to halfway up the relief; and area through the middle of Metjetji’s skirt. Restorations: much of Metjetji’s skirt.
Description. Metjetji strides to our right with his left leg stretched forward and holds in his raised left hand a staff. His hair is long; the beard under his chin is short. He wears a collar, and his kilt stretches down to just above his knees. The child behind him grasps Metjetji’s leg below the knee with his left hand; the child in front holds Metjetji’s staff in his left hand and a bird in his lowered right. Reddish ochre paint remains on Metjetji’s limbs and face; black on his hair.