Sandstone statue of Paser

From Abu Simbel, Egypt
19th Dynasty, around 1250 BC

A viceroy of Nubia presenting an altar to the god Amun

This statue was discovered by Giovanni Belzoni in the area of the Temple of Abu Simbel in 1817. It shows Paser, a viceroy of Nubia during the reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC). He is holding an offering table on which is placed the head of a ram, an animal sacred to the god Amun. The viceroy of Nubia was responsible for Egyptian concerns there, and in charge of military campaigns. It is reasonable to assume that Paser set this statue up as a votive offering to Amun while on duty in Nubia; Amun is one of the deities worshipped at Abu Simbel.

The execution of the statue is interesting. The facial features are rather roughly carved, and do not reach the high standards which are typical of the best sculptures of Ramesses' reign. The type of sandstone is a variant of a native Nubian stone, and it is possible that this statue was carved in a local Nubian workshop, to which Paser had easy access.

The British Museum has the granite lid of the sarcophagus of Setjau, another viceroy of the same reign.

G. Belzoni, Narrative of the operations an (London, John Murray, 1822)

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