Kneeling Statue of Raia and Ptah by Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

Description

This sculpture, originating from ca. 1275 BC, depicts Raia, an official in the sanctuary of Ptah, the chief God of Memphis. In this representation Ptah is represented on a hill from which the world was believed to have been created. On the pedestal of the statue and the shrine stand consecration inscriptions with the names of both Raia and Osiris. The side of the naos bears a picture of a djed-pillar, a symbol associated with Osiris, who represents sustainibility. The two falcons on top of the ba's are the souls of Re. Raia was employed by the administration of the great temple of the god of Memphis, Ptah. The words House of Ptah is applied to the upper arms of his tomb image to maintain his relationship with this god emphatically in the afterlife.The image is of fine white limestone. Given the nature of the inscriptions that appear on it, it should be in a grave in the cemetery of Memphis stood at Saqqara. Another image of the same owner located in Cambridge. The man is represented kneeling. He devotes a devout gesture a naos, a little gods shrine. This naos is a statue of his master, the Lord of Truth, Ptah. Which stands on a base which has the shape of the oerheuvel, the place from which line, according to the solar theology, the world has been created. The knielbeeld with naos in the New Kingdom a common picture type. Characteristic of the images of men and women from the late New Kingdom is the round, full face shape. Raia wearing a broad ceremonial wig and is dressed…