Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Head and Torso of a King

ca. 2455–2425 B.C.E.

1 of 3

Object Label

This fragment depicts a king in the pleated linen nemes-headcloth and the uraeus-cobra worn only by royalty. The complete statue probably showed him standing and wearing a short kilt. The well-modeled torso and round, youthful face are characteristic of royal statuary from the Fifth Dynasty. This figure most closely resembles statues of King Niuserre, who may be represented here.

Caption

Head and Torso of a King, ca. 2455–2425 B.C.E.. Granite, pigment, 13 3/8 x 6 3/8 x 5 9/16 in. (34 x 16.2 x 14.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 72.58. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 72.58_SL1.jpg)

Title

Head and Torso of a King

Date

ca. 2455–2425 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 5

Period

Old Kingdom

Geography

Place found: Egypt

Medium

Granite, pigment

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

13 3/8 x 6 3/8 x 5 9/16 in. (34 x 16.2 x 14.1 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

72.58

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Frequent Art Questions

  • What is the king's name?

    We don't know for sure but the curators guess that it is King Niuserre from Dynasty 5.
    We can tell he is a king because of the headdress he wears. It is called a 'nemes' which means 'royal headcloth'. You will see other depictions of kings and pharaohs in the galleries with the same headdress on.
    Ok, thank you!
    You're welcome! Let us know if you have more questions as you explore the Museum.

Have information?

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bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.