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Statue of a Ptolemaic King-A 28

Statue of a ptolemaic king-A 28 is an ancient Egyptian fragmentary statue in black basalt, representing an anonymous young pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The figure follows traditional royal Egyptian sculpture conventions, standing still with rigid arms against the hips and the left leg advanced. Several parts are missing, including the legs, the lower skirt, the right hand, part of the left arm, and the nose; the uraeus on the ruler’s forehead is also damaged. Despite the loss, the face remains gentle and the torso athletic but softened in form, suggesting the king’s youth. The sculpture is preserved in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the Louvre Museum.

Upper body of a Ptolemaic king statue in dark stone, wearing an Egyptian headcloth and kilt with broken arms.
Dark stone statue of a Ptolemaic king, shown from the head to the hips with damaged arms.
June 2012 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Upper torso of a Ptolemaic king statue in dark stone, with a nemes headdress and missing arms.
Upper section of a basalt Ptolemaic king statue, showing the nemes headdress and bare torso.
November 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Fragmentary bust of a Ptolemaic king with an Egyptian nemes headcloth, broad collar, and broken nose.
Fragmentary bust of a Ptolemaic king wearing an Egyptian nemes headcloth and broad collar.
© · CC BY-SA 1.0
Upper torso and head of a dark basalt statue of a Ptolemaic king, with a damaged nose and traditional headdress.
Upper torso and head of a Ptolemaic king statue, shown with a damaged nose and traditional headdress.
October 2024 · Public domain
Upper portion of a Ptolemaic King statue with a headdress, damaged nose, and missing arms.
Upper section of a dark stone statue of a Ptolemaic king, showing the headdress and worn facial features.
October 2024 · Public domain

Identification

TitleStatue of a Ptolemaic king-A 28
Object typeAncient Egyptian statue fragment (torso)

Historical context

DynastyPtolemaic dynasty
PeriodHellenistic period
DateStylistic considerations suggest a date after the 3rd century BC, with some features also described as more typical of the 1st century BC

Creator

AttributionAnonymous

Discovery and provenance

Current locationDepartment of Egyptian Antiquities, Louvre Museum, France

Physical characteristics

Facial featuresSoft face with a small mouth that appears to be smiling or pouting, large asymmetrical ears, large eyes, and well-defined eyebrows
Body treatmentAthletic but softer than muscular torso
HeadgearSmooth nemes headdress with a royal uraeus
GarmentShort kilt
PoseStanding upright and motionless, with the arms held rigidly close to the sides and the left leg advanced
ConditionFragmentary; the lower legs below the kilt, the right hand, half of the left arm, and the nose are missing, and the uraeus on the forehead is worn

Iconography and meaning

Depicted figureA Ptolemaic king / pharaoh, shown as a young ruler
Interpretation of ageThe softened physique suggests the king was young
Stylistic traditionModeled on traditional ancient Egyptian royal sculpture conventions established in earlier periods
Alternative identificationPossibly Ptolemy V, though some stylistic features are also said to fit the reign of Ptolemy VIII
Identification noteThe youthfulness of the figure supports a possible identification with Ptolemy V, while the small mouth and large eyes are considered more typical of the second half of the 2nd century BC and the reign of Ptolemy VIII (169–116 BC, alternating)

Other

Comparative examplesThe sculpture is compared with later Ptolemaic examples, including colossi of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy XV Caesar, and with images from the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris