The Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh
Katherine Mordan
Art Survey
Research Paper
Prof. Lindt
10/23/11
The Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh The Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh is a piece of Middle Age Egyptian art and it was the
piece that caught my eye at the MET. The statue was made around 1919b.c-1885b.c. to
represent the reign of the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat II. It is made out of stone, a
stone called Granodiorite. It was carved in Aswan and was completed in Memphis near
Cairo. The sculpture is a sculpture in the round, meaning that it is a three dimensional
figure that is carved out of block. The statue has smooth texture and large in size. It's an
enormous statue that raises over a crowd of people, which adds a symbol of power
towards it. I saw that it's Amenemhat II sitting on his throne; you can see some damage to
the sculpture due to time and moving around of the sculpture.
It's missing a nose and its beard. The Pharaoh is wearing a kilt and wearing a belt that
has a bull's tail attached to it. To Egyptians a bull’s tail is a symbol of their strength
according to researchers at the Met. He is wearing a royal head cloth with a royal cobra
symbolizing the ruler's power. At the foot of the cubes throne is a bunch of scriptures
symbolizing it's meaning to the kingdom.
The statue was made for the Pharaoh Amenemhat II who ruled in the 12th dynasty.
This was the most important period in the middle kingdom, he ruled from 1919- 1885
b.c. He first started his reign with his father and then took over a country that his father
kept stable and economically stable. One of the things that pharaoh Amenemhat II did
was conduct a military campaign in Syria getting prisoners to build pyramids for him. He
would also conducts trades with other countries for goods, copper, wood , and stones.
During this time art was gaining popularity in Egypt.
Art Survey
Research Paper
Prof. Lindt
10/23/11
The Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh The Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh is a piece of Middle Age Egyptian art and it was the
piece that caught my eye at the MET. The statue was made around 1919b.c-1885b.c. to
represent the reign of the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat II. It is made out of stone, a
stone called Granodiorite. It was carved in Aswan and was completed in Memphis near
Cairo. The sculpture is a sculpture in the round, meaning that it is a three dimensional
figure that is carved out of block. The statue has smooth texture and large in size. It's an
enormous statue that raises over a crowd of people, which adds a symbol of power
towards it. I saw that it's Amenemhat II sitting on his throne; you can see some damage to
the sculpture due to time and moving around of the sculpture.
It's missing a nose and its beard. The Pharaoh is wearing a kilt and wearing a belt that
has a bull's tail attached to it. To Egyptians a bull’s tail is a symbol of their strength
according to researchers at the Met. He is wearing a royal head cloth with a royal cobra
symbolizing the ruler's power. At the foot of the cubes throne is a bunch of scriptures
symbolizing it's meaning to the kingdom.
The statue was made for the Pharaoh Amenemhat II who ruled in the 12th dynasty.
This was the most important period in the middle kingdom, he ruled from 1919- 1885
b.c. He first started his reign with his father and then took over a country that his father
kept stable and economically stable. One of the things that pharaoh Amenemhat II did
was conduct a military campaign in Syria getting prisoners to build pyramids for him. He
would also conducts trades with other countries for goods, copper, wood , and stones.
During this time art was gaining popularity in Egypt.