Egyptian. <em>Bound Nubian Prisoner</em>, ca. 1979–1801 B.C.E. Limestone, 4 7/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (11.3 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.23. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 73.23_threequarter_right_PS2.jpg)

Egyptian. Bound Nubian Prisoner, ca. 1979–1801 B.C.E. Limestone, 4 7/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (11.3 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.23. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 73.23_threequarter_right_PS2.jpg)

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Bound Nubian Prisoner

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

The ancient Egyptians thought of their country as the center of the ordered universe. They saw foreigners as emanations of chaos that had to be controlled or even annihilated. Since the Egyptians believed that images of things might be magically equated with the things themselves, ritually damaging and burying representations of bound foreigners (here a man from Nubia, a neighboring culture) was meant to guarantee dominion over potential enemies and control over external threats to order.

CULTURE Egyptian

MEDIUM Limestone

Possible Place Made: Thebes, Egypt

DATES ca. 1979–1801 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 12 (possibly)

PERIOD Middle Kingdom (possibly)

DIMENSIONS 4 7/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (11.3 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 73.23

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION One figure of a bound Nubian prisoner worked in very soft limestone. Kneeling with arms pulled behind back. Wearing a short wig. An ear plug (?) in right ear worked in the stone, gone from left ear. Features worn. Torse very long. Traces of dark red-brown over all flesh areas most of which remains on back. Traces of black on hair. Condition: Most paint gone. Surface abrasions and worn areas, nose and mouth very worn.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Egyptian. Bound Nubian Prisoner, ca. 1979–1801 B.C.E. Limestone, 4 7/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (11.3 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.23. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 73.23_threequarter_right_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE 73.23_threequarter_right_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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