Who was Senwosret III?
This is a statue of Senwosret III, a pharaoh from ancient Egypt’s Middle Kingdom. He was a great military leader and is shown here with many signs of kingship. I just love how powerful his face is.
What is the significance of Senwosret’s sculpture?
The sculpture is also loaded with symbols of his status as king. For example, you can see a bull’s tail between Senwosret’s legs which was part of traditional kingly regalia in Ancient Egypt. Under his feet are nine bows symbolizing Egypt’s traditional foreign enemies being subdued by the king.
Why is King Senwosret sitting on a throne with a fist?
He’s sitting on a throne because he is a king, King Senwosret III. Most sculptures of men featuring their hands in a fist include a cylindrical object in the fist. We don’t know what it is. Some suggestions include: an amulet, a rolled up papyrus with a prayer written on it, or a symbolic representation of a staff or scepter.
How old are the carvings on the back of Ramses II’s statue?
The carvings now dominating the back of the statue (fig. 2) were created more than 600 years after the sculpture was first carved, when Ramesses II adopted this colossus of a Middle Kingdom pharaoh and transformed it into an image of himself.