This is a personification of the 'reeds of millions of years' - the chain of icons hanging from the disembodied arms signify eternal protection for millions of years for pharaonic rule. The years are notched out on the reeds as they pass - you can see the notches on the right.

The animal is the Seth animal, and in this case I think it signifies a town which kept this sign, which is somewhere called 'nbt' going by the town glyph at the top centre, which is the original name of Naqada, in upper Egypt, AKA the gold town.

The thrones on the left are the thrones of upper and lower Egypt. I suspect this whole piece is from a jubilee temple or chapel celebrating the king's jubilee or 30 year Heb Sed festival.

The king is Senwosret I of the 12th dynasty.

You see other icons personified at times - like the Djed column.

Dave Light.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 02/02/2008 01:18PM by Dave L.