Relief of Zezennakht

Dynasty Dynasty 11 (second half) (Ancient Egyptian, 2030–1981 BCE)

Period First Intermediate Period (Ancient Egyptian, 2150–2030 BCE)

Place of OriginEgypt, Tomb of Zezennakht at Naga ed-Deir

Date11th Dynasty (2130–1991 BCE), about 2000 BCE

Dimensions26 1/4 × 31 5/8 × 3 1/2 in. (66.7 × 80.3 × 8.9 cm)

Mediumlimestone with stucco and paint

ClassificationSculpture

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1947.61

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

Label TextExecuted in high relief, in which the background of the limestone slab was carved away, the image of Zezen-nakht confronts the standard offering formula, which begins at upper right with two hieroglyphs meaning “an offering.” The inscriptions at right also include his names, titles, and accomplishments, as well as a dense collection of offerings. A powerful man, Zezen-nakht is depicted wearing a curled wig, sandals, and starched linen kilt. His collars and bracelets are of gold vibrantly combined with turquoise and carnelian.Published ReferencesDunham, Dows, Naga-ed-Dêr Stelae of the First Intermediate Period, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, London, 1937, p.v.

Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, no. 129, October, 1951, repr.

Pautler, Margo L., "Books and Manuscripts," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, new series, vol. 9, no. 2, Summer 1966, pp. 27-46, repr. p. 29.

Luckner, Kurt T., "The Art of Egypt, Part 1," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, new series, vol. 14, no.1, Spring 1971, pp. 14-15, repr. fig. 14 and on cover (col.).

Turley, Robert, Humanities: the Western creative heritage, a student handbook, Dubuque, 1991, repr. p. ii.

The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Treasures, Toledo, 1995, p. 33, repr. (col.).

Reich, Paula, Toledo Museum of Art: Map and Guide, London, Scala, 2005, p. 7, repr. (col.).

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 61, repr. (col.).

Reich, Paula, Toledo Museum of Art: Map and Guide, London, Scala, 2009, p. 7, repr. (col.)

Peck, William H., Sandra E. Knudsen and Paula Reich, Egypt in Toledo: The Ancient Egyptian Collection at the Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, 2011, p. 42-43, repr. (col.) p. 10, 42-43, (det.) p. 41.

Exhibition HistoryToledo, Toledo Museum of Art, The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb, October 29, 2010-January 8, 2012.Comparative ReferencesSee also Clère, J.J., "La Stèle de Police (MR-SNT)," Revue d'Egyptologie, Paris, 1950, pp. 19-32, T. VII, repr. pl. III.

See also Dunham, Dows, The Egyptian Department and its excavations, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1958, pp. 64-66.