An Egyptian Painted Wood Round-Top Stele

Third Intermediate Period, 21st-22nd Dynasty, 1070-664 B.C.

Height 10 3/4 inches (27.31 cm).

Provenance:

Donald Wonder (1938-2023), California & New Jersey, prior to 1998; thence by descent. [Inv. no. 23]

This stele features an enthroned Osiris with two female musicians and hieroglyphic inscriptions. The inscriptions invoke praise for Osiris and reveal that it was dedicated by Pa-Ser, whose mother is mentioned as the Kheneret, a title denoting a female musician in service to Amun-Re.

The stele has seven columns of hieroglyphs, with the far-left column referencing "The time [?] of the West," potentially indicating the journey to the afterlife. The other six columns are read from left to right, reflecting traditional Egyptian text layout. This piece not only exemplifies the artistry of the Third Intermediate Period but also underscores the cultural significance of feminine titles in ancient Egyptian society. A translation of the inscription is available upon request.

For further reading on feminine titles in ancient Egypt, see W.A. Ward, Essays on Feminine Titles of the Middle Kingdom, B. Bryan, BES 4 (1982), R. Drenkhahn, SAK 4 (1976), Del Nord, Serapis 2 (1970), and Nord, Dunham Fs. (1981).