The granite statue depicts its owner, Sobekhotep, a servant of the goddess Neith and of the god Sobek. Sobekhotep is represented in a squatting position with his knees drawn up. The flat surfaces of the garment that covers his body produce a cuboid impression, which gives its name to this form of statuary. The disguise of the statue corresponds with symbols of regeneration and continuing life after death.  Furthermore, the posture of the statue, as well as the crossed hands, appear often in other depictions exhibiting humility toward god and king. This form of private statuary, which first appeared in the Middle Kingdom, enjoyed great popularity during the New Kingdom and in later periods. During these periods, private statues and block statues in particular were placed in temples, where they could participate in rituals and in festivals that took place around the year. The statue bears an image of Osiris, wearing the white crown and holding the was scepter, while a depiction of Anubis/Wepwawat upon their shrines decorate the surface above each hand.  Two symmetrical inscriptions on each side of Osiris name the owner of the statue and give his titles, “Osiris, servant of Neith and of the one who rests (on) legs, Sem priest of Sehet, Sobekhotep.”

Date

747-656 BCE

Period

Twenty-Fifth Dynasty

Dimensions

H. 24 cm; W. 12 cm; D. 10 cm

Material

Granite

Museum

Yale Art Gallery

Accession Number

1930.49

O. Perdu, “Sobekhotep, pretre dans la region du Fayoum vers la XXVe dynastie,” GM 106 (1988): 75-81.

R. Schulz, Die Entwicklung und Bedeutung des kuboiden Statuentypus: eine Untersuchung zu den sogenannten "Würfelhockern". (Hildesheim: Gerstenberg, 1992): II, 783-5.

G. D. Scott, Ancient Egyptian art at Yale. (New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 1986): 134-5.