ID: 700000054 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700000054	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1 2

Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor (relief (sculpture ); unknown Egyptian; under reign of Mentuhotep II; ca. 2010–2000 B.C.E.; late rei...; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, U...; 07.230.2; )

Note: King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep (Mentuhotep II) was revered by the Egyptians as the ruler who reunited Egypt after the era of disunity (the First Intermediate Period) that followed the end of the Old Kingdom. Descended from a family of Theban rulers the king built his tomb and mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri in western Thebes. This relief was originally part of the decoration of the temple's main sanctuary that was added to the building at the end of the king's reign. The fine balance between figures and inscriptions on this block as well as the clear outline and regular proportions of the king's image with its individualized facial features exemplify the peak of a relief art that had developed over the decades while the vast temple complex was built and decorated. The figure of the goddess Hathor on the right of the block was chiselled away during the Amarna period, when King Akhenaten propagated the sole worship of the god Aten. Hathor was repaired in plaster in early Dynasty 19 and some of the paint on the whole block may also have been renewed at the time.

Titles:

Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

relief (sculpture ) [300047230] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Visual Works (hierarchy name), visual works (works), <visual works by material or technique>, sculpture (visual works), <sculpture by technique>)

Classifications:

sculptures (preferred)

murals

Ancient Egyptian art

Creation Date: ca. 2010–2000 B.C.E.; late reign of Mentuhotep II

Creator Display:

unknown Egyptian; under reign of Mentuhotep II [preferred,VP]

sculptor unknown Egyptian (modern) (modern Egyptian cultural designation) [500203245]

patron Mentuhotep II (Ancient Egyptian king, ca. 2040-1957 BCE) [500125214]

Locations:

Other: Original: Dayr al Baḩrī [7525427] Sūhāj (governorate), Egypt (nation), Africa (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Current: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, United States) [500125157] Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 07.230.2

Credit Line: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1907

Display Materials: painted limestone, low relief carving

	limestone [300011286]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, rock (inorganic material), sedimentary rock, <sedimentary rock by composition>, carbonate rock)

	paint (coating) [300015029]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>)

	bas-relief (sculpture technique) [300053623]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <object-making processes and techniques>, sculpting, sculpture techniques, relief (sculpture techniques))

Dimensions: H. 36 cm (14 3/16 in); W. 98 cm (38 9/16 in)

Events:

discovery: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Temple of Mentuhotep II, Egypt Exploration Fund excavations, 1907. Thebes [7001297] (Qinā (governorate), Egypt (nation), Africa (continent), World (facet))

Cultures:

Ancient Egyptian (preferred)

Style/Period/Group/Movement:

	Middle Kingdom (Egyptian) [300020315] (preferred,N/A)
	.....(Styles and Periods Facet, Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), <styles| periods| and cultures by region>, Early Western World, Mediterranean (Early Western World), Egyptian (ancient), Egyptian periods)

	Eleventh Dynasty (Egyptian) [300020317] (N/A)
	.....(Styles and Periods Facet, Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), <styles| periods| and cultures by region>, Early Western World, Mediterranean (Early Western World), Egyptian (ancient), Egyptian periods, Middle Kingdom (Egyptian))

General Subject:

religion and mythology (preferred)

human figures

Specific Subjects:

	Mentuhotep II (Ancient Egyptian king, ca. 2040-1957 BCE) [500125214]
	.....(Non-Artists) (ULAN)

	Hathor [901001394]
	.....((Egyptian characters, Egyptian iconography, Legend, Religion, Mythology)) (ICON)

	pharaohs [300150507]
	.....(Agents Facet, People (hierarchy name), people (agents), <people by occupation>, <people in administration and government>, rulers (people), monarchs) (AAT)

	hieroglyphics [300028721]
	.....(Objects Facet, Components (hierarchy name), components (objects parts), <components by specific context>, information form components, <script and type forms>, scripts (writing), <scripts by form>) (AAT)

	funerary objects [300234126]
	.....(Objects Facet, Object Genres (hierarchy name), object genres (object classifications), <object genres by function>, ceremonial objects) (AAT)

	male [300189559]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), scientific concepts, biological concepts, sex (biological characteristic)) (AAT)

	figures (representations) [300189808]
	.....(Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Visual Works (hierarchy name), visual works (works), <visual works by subject type>) (AAT)

Provenance: Naville excavations at Deir el-Bahri working for the Egypt Exploration Fund. Acquired by the EEF in the division of finds. Given by the EEF to the Museum for its contribution to the excavations, 1907.

Inscriptions: in part, the hieroglyphics include the name Mentuhotep ("Montu [a local Theban god] is satisfied"), enclosed in the oval-shaped cartouche in front of his face; his Horus name, Sematawy ("Uniter of the Two Lands [Upper and Lower Egypt]") is seen at the top of the rectangular device (a serekh) next to the cartouche. Inscriptions from left to right: Divine speech (of Amun): …[nb tA.wj] Nswt-bj.tj nb-xpt-ra zA-raw MnT.w-[Htp.w] pA(w.t) r j(t).w=k nb n-aA-[mr.wt] "…Lord of the Two Lands, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebkhepetre, Son of Re Mentuhotep… Provisions more than all your ancestors inasmuch as…" Next, above the papyrus plant one could still the remains of a figure of a vulture. Below, the inscription reads: HD.t-nxn Aw.t-a nb(.t) The white one of Hierakonpolis with the outstretched arm, mistress of…(Nekhbet) Above the king, the inscription reads: smA-tA.wj mnT.w-Htp.w anx(.w) D.t Sematwai Mentuhotep, may he live forever Before him: dwA nTr Adoring Amun Behind him: wn=f Xnt.j [kA.w anx.w nb Di(.w) anx mj raw D.t] May he be foremost [of the all the living spirits (ka), may he be given life forever like Re] In front of Hathor: ...smA.n(=i) n=k tA.wi mi wD.t.n bA.w[jwnw mrr.w Tw anx.ti D.t]…Aw.t-jb nb For you I united the two lands as the powers of [Heliopolis, who love you] commanded [may you live forever]…all joy Niv Allon 2017

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: carvings and sculptures

Sources and Contributors:
Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor	........ [VP]
	........ Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-) accessed 3 March 2018

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-)