Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, 2700 -2200 B.C.
Limestone, painted, from Giza
The presence of Hemiunu in this gallery marks only the third time in history that this statue was ever moved. It originally was placed in its tomb during Dynasty 4. It was discovered in 1912 and immediately thereafter transported to the Roemer-und Pelizaeus-Museum where it has remained until it was shipped to America in January 1996, in time for the "Splendors Of Ancient Egypt exhibition." The corpulence of Hemiunu is an artistic convention to portray social importance and administrative authority. When found in 1912 within its tomb chamber, the head was separated from its body, the result of an act of vandalism caused by tomb-robbers who successfully removed its inlaid eyes.
Photo courtesy of Roemer und Pelizaeus Museum
Splendors | Artifacts
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