Egyptian Art

...

in society. Both was wearing wigs and their delicate pleated linen

clothes. The elegant clothes on which an inscription on the front

of Userhat’s kilt describes him as "Royal Scribe of the Granary." This

indicated the king and authority approved his dignity.

        Userhat and Kha placed their statue in Karnak temple. Temples

in ancient Egypt were a place where the Egyptian worshiped to the

gods, due to temples represented the houses of the gods on earth.

Userhat and Kha may be wanted their statue was depicted as a dignified

symbol of worship as if the god of the temple, and also hoped to get

offerings and participate in religious rituals so they let their statue took

part in the rituals and daily offerings in the temple. 

       The sculptor aimed to create an eternal substitute home for the ka,

but may not to record living features. Many Egyptian artworks are

associated with the ka, survived the death of the human beings’ body

and then the soul can reside in a picture or statue, the portrait of

Userhat and Kha is no exception. The composition which they were

sitting on a throne and their faces are solemn is grand even though they

are non-royal. Moreover, the throne they sit has the majority proportion

of the entire composition. The ka could reside an eternal home in the

relatively large cubic stone image.

         In addition, there is little difference of the size between the

couple. Generally, Men’s figure would bigger than women, or their

position are more advanced. However, Userhat’s figure just higher than

Kha slightly in the image. It seems to symbolize female position is

almost equal to males at that dynasty.

        All in all, many noteworthy messages and representatives

reflected Egyptian culture, ideas, and techniques through the

composition, placed location, material, posture, costume, and

inscription.

Bibliography

• Hopkins, Henry T., ed. Illustrated Handbook of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  West Germany:  Bruder Hartmann, 1965.