Limestone statue of Panehsy

From Egypt
19th Dynasty, around 1250 BC

An overseer of the treasury of the reign of Ramesses II

Such a statue would have been placed in a temple, exhibiting Panehsy's piety to the gods and hoping for favours in return.

Panehsy is dressed in the typical style of the period, with a long flowing, wide-sleeved robe and an elaborate wig. A block statue of Roy, also in The British Museum shows a similar style. On Panehsy's shoulders are cartouches of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC).

Panehsy kneels holding a naos (shrine) containing figures of the triad (group of three gods) of Abydos: Osiris, Isis and Horus. For this reason, and the fact that the inscriptions also invoke the necropolis (cemetery) deities Anubis and Wepwawet, it has been thought that the object might have come from Abydos, but it has also been suggested that it comes from Thebes.

M.L. Bierbrier (ed.), Hieroglyphic texts from Egyp-6, Part 10 (London, The British Museum Press, 1982)