Statue of Queen Ankhnes-meryre II and Her Son, Pepy II

Statue of Queen Ankhnes-meryre II and Her Son, Pepy II

Pepy II became king as a small child, so his mother acted as regent. This statue conveys her role, evoking the typical Egyptian pose of a mother nursing a child. Pepy is shown as a miniature king rather than a child and, instead of nursing him, the queen holds him protectively as he clasps her hand. Each figure looks straight ahead and has its own inscription, as if it were a separate statue.

MEDIUM Egyptian alabaster

DATES ca. 2288-2224 or 2194 B.C.E.

DYNASTY VI Dynasty

PERIOD Old Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 15 7/16 x 9 13/16 in. (39.2 x 24.9 cm)

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/3446

Seated alabaster statue of Queen Cnh-n.s’-Mry-rc holding in her lap a small figure of King Nfr-k3-rc (Pepy II) on simple block throne; inscription in one column and one row at Queen’s feet, one column at King’s feet. Condition: Practically perfect. Very slight chips, apparently recent, along right edge of inscription at Queen’s feet; left arm of Queen apparently broken off in antiquity and reassembled, considerably weathered, large fragment missing from arm to wrist. Opening in the forehead of Queen presumably for head of the Vulture headdress which is missing. Various brown deposits on back of throne and organic deposits in the hieroglyphs and in details of bodies. Crack runs almost midway through the headdress and face of Queen probably a natural cleavage in the stone. Two drill marks behind Queen’s feet.