Khafre Enthroned, Seated Scribe, And Aton

As a general rule in Ancient Egyptian art, less respected people were portrayed with more realistic figures. In addition, the rarity of the materials used corresponded to the prestige of the person in question. Their status was also reinforced through the presence of various symbols and scale, especially in the case of god-kings. For example, the depictions seen in Khafre Enthroned, Seated Scribe, and Akhenaton from the temple of Aton reveal the respect received by the works’ subjects through these previously mentioned attributes. For instance, Khafre Enthroned, a statue from the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, has significant symbols carved into the imported diorite and an ideal figure that suggest strength and authority. In the statue, Khafre sits on the body of two stylized lions, a symbol of his strength and authority as a king. In addition, his linen headdress is worn with the cobra of kingship, a
During this time period, scribes were valued for their ability to read and write, but they lacked the divine status and authority of the king. As a result, this statue has a more realistic figure cut from native stone, and it lacks the grand symbols noted in Khafre Enthroned. In fact, the scribe has a sagging chest and protruding belly. He humbly sits on the floor with comparably less adornment. Although the statue is more realistic, suggesting the scribe was a less respected figure, his obesity might indicate that he had a relatively comfortable life and high position compared to the laborers of the time. The fact that there is a statue of him indicates some importance and respect even if it is made of limestone (which was much easier to obtain when compared to diorite). Overall, the level of realism, materials used, and absence of certain symbols suggest that this figure was at a smaller scale in terms of authority in Ancient Egyptian