<em>Pawerem, Priest of Bastet</em>, 570–510 B.C.E. Basalt, 18 1/8 × 7 1/2 × 11 1/4 in., 74 lb. (46 × 19.1 × 28.6 cm, 33.57kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.36E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.36E_threequarter_PS9.jpg)

Pawerem, Priest of Bastet, 570–510 B.C.E. Basalt, 18 1/8 × 7 1/2 × 11 1/4 in., 74 lb. (46 × 19.1 × 28.6 cm, 33.57kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.36E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.36E_threequarter_PS9.jpg)

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Pawerem, Priest of Bastet

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Each morning in the temple, the pharaoh, or a priest playing the role of pharaoh, cared for the image of a god in order to protect it from the forces of chaos and assist the god’s daily rebirth. Temple Statue of Pawerem holds a shrine containing an image of the goddess Bastet, while Kneeling Statue of a Man holds a seated figure of Osiris, the god of the dead. Such statues (called naophoros, or “shrine-bearing”) link their owners to the daily temple ritual and associate them permanently with the divine cycle of death and rebirth.

MEDIUM Basalt

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Reportedly from: Saqqara, Egypt
Possible place made: Bubastis (modern day Zagazig), Egypt

DATES 570–510 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 26 to early Dynasty 27

PERIOD Late Period

DIMENSIONS 18 1/8 × 7 1/2 × 11 1/4 in., 74 lb. (46 × 19.1 × 28.6 cm, 33.57kg) mount (mount (dimensions when installed)): 19 x 7 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (48.3 x 19.1 x 29.2 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.36E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Black diorite or basalt naophorous statue of a priest of Bastet. The figure, who wears a Shendyt-kilt, kneels upon a rectangular plinth. Resting upon his legs is a deep naos. His palms rest against the sides of it as if to steady it. The front of the naos is decorated with a recess in which is carved, in relief, a figure of the goddess Bastet. The goddess wears a lappet wig, broad collar, and tight dress. The stone is smoothly polished. The torso modeling is simple without indication of a median line. The one preserved nipple is given in relief. An extension of the stone connects the rear of the naos with the abdomen. Condition: Base chipped; head, right shoulder, upper arms missing; top of back pillar missing; most of piece chipped.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Pawerem, Priest of Bastet, 570–510 B.C.E. Basalt, 18 1/8 × 7 1/2 × 11 1/4 in., 74 lb. (46 × 19.1 × 28.6 cm, 33.57kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.36E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.36E_threequarter_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE threequarter, 37.36E_threequarter_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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