Date: possibly 381-343 B.C. (Late Period, Dynasty 30)
Medium: limestone
Provenance: Egypt
Dimensions: height 5 5/16”, width 4 3/4”
Accession number: 51-75

Condition: good. Pitting on most of the right side.

Description. The pharaoh kneels on his right knee and raises two jars of wine as an offering to a god not portrayed here. He wears a collar, skirt (possibly with bull tail), and a Blue Crown whose uraeus has two horizontal coils. The king has a double chin, and the corners of his lips are slightly turned up. His body is summarily rendered. The relief is very low.

Dating and identity. Bothmer (1987) identified the ruler as Nectanebo II (Dynasty 30, 362-343 B.C.) and suggested that the relief may have been made between the reigns of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy IV, when Nectanebo II was worshipped (285-205 B.C.). Russmann (1992) believes the figure is Nectanebo I, Nectanebo II, or another Dynasty 30 ruler. For the uraeus with two horizontal coils as a possible criterion for dating, see Statuette of a kneeling pharaoh.

Function. The relief was probably placed in a temple as an offering (see Two-sided relief with portrait of a pharaoh and two heads).

Unpublished. Note visits of Bernard Bothmer, September 26-27, 1987; Edna Russmann, November 7-8, 1992.

Useful sources: see Statuette of a kneeling pharaoh and Two-sided relief with portrait of a pharaoh and two heads.

(RC)

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