Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dan Bussiculo

November 19, 2005

Ancient Civilizations

Museum Project

For this project I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on at least four different occasions, September 20th being the first visit, the subsequent three I didn't write down. I chose to examine the Ancient Egypt civilization, which is extremely rich in everything from hieroglyphics and statues to jewelry and tombs.

The first item I examined was the royal acquaintance Memi and Sabu, from Dynasty 4 2575-2464 BCE. It is painted limestone out of Giza donated by the Rogers Fund in 1948. This statue evokes the intimacy of Memi and his companion, Sabu, although she is set somewhat apart by her oblique gaze. Until recently, the flowering of non royal statuary was believed to have occurred only in the 5th and 6th dynasties. Recent studies indicate however many of these non royal statues, including Memi and Sabu are better dated to the 4th dynasty, contemporary with great royal statuary programs. The early date for Memi and Sabu is based both on her coiffure and on the reciprocated embrace.

The next item was the head of a female personification of an estate. It is from the 4th dynasty, the reign of Khufu ca, 2551-2528 BCE. It is made of limestone probably from Giza out of the pyramid complex of Amenemhat. It was donated by the Rogers Fund and Edward Harkness in 1922. The upper part of a female figure is the personification of Khufu's agricultural estates. The placement of the pharaoh's name on a crossbar with feathery decorations and streamers at the back indicates that the figure has been assimilated to a standard. Estates were not new establishment settlements dedicated to providing for the funerary out of the founder of the temple. Rows of estate personification lining the walks of old kingdom pyramid temples represented the kings eternity.

I then observed a jar and bowl from the mid 4th to the 5th dynasty, during the reign of Khufu 2551-2528 BCE. They were both made from limestone and donated by the Rogers Fund in 1910 and 1921. Both items were created by some with incredible talent as the shape and symmetry of each looked nearly perfect, especially since they are nearly 5,000 years old. The tall jar in particular showcased the sculptor's skills in the unique way in which he/she used the natural colors and translucency inherent in the stone.

Finally a vase caught my eye which was in the shape of a female monkey and her young. It is from the 6th dynasty, the reign of Merenre I, 2255-2246 BCE, and was bequest of Theodore M. Davis in 1915. The piece alludes to motherhood and fertility and also to the exotic lands that provided rare ingredients for the oils and unguents used in the vase. They were believed to have rejuvenating effects and it is believed that they were made for the pharaoh who then gave them to favored women.

The collection