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Raherka and Meresankh

Raherka and Meresankh is a group statue of an ancient Egyptian couple from the 4th or 5th Dynasty. The pair is known from a limestone statue now in the Louvre (E 15592), noted as an example of portraiture in Ancient Egypt. Raherka is shown with modeled musculature and traditional red male skin tones, while Meresankh is painted with the yellow-toned skin color standard for the time. Their wigs and eyeliners are black, and the wife warmly embraces her husband, a pose compared to the statue of Seneb and his family. The work was found in 1902 by Montague Ballard and probably comes from tomb D 37 in the Steindorff cemetery at Giza.

Raherka and Meresankh limestone statue showing a standing Egyptian man and woman together on a base.
The limestone statue of Raherka and Meresankh shows a standing man and woman side by side.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 fr
Painted ancient Egyptian statue of Raherka and Meresankh standing together on a rectangular base.
Raherka and Meresankh depicted as a standing painted ancient Egyptian couple statue.
April 2024 © · CC0
Raherka and Meresankh painted double statue of a man and a woman standing side by side, with the woman’s arm around the man’s waist.
Painted double statue of Raherka and Meresankh, showing the pair standing closely together with worn traces of pigment.
© · Public domain
Ancient Egyptian statue of Raherka and Meresankh standing together in a glass display case.
Raherka and Meresankh, an ancient Egyptian statue of a standing couple on display in a glass case.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 fr
Close-up of the heads of the Raherka and Meresankh statues with textured headdresses and painted facial details.
Close-up of the Raherka and Meresankh statue heads, showing their distinct headdresses and facial features.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0 fr

Identification

TitleRaherka and Meresankh
Original-language nameRaherka y Meresankh
Typedouble statue of a married couple
SubjectsRaherka and his wife Meresankh

Historical context

Cultural originAncient Egyptian
Date4th or 5th Dynasty of ancient Egypt

Creator

Meresankh's statusCourt lady; noblewoman with access to the royal palace
Meresankh's titleKnown to the king
Raherka's roleHeld high administrative responsibilities
Raherka's titleInspector of scribes of the jackal
Names meaningRaherka: "Ra = the Sun god"; Meresankh: "she loves life"

Discovery and provenance

Discovery date1902
DiscovererMontague Ballard
Probable provenanceProbably from tomb D 37 in the western cemetery of the Khufu funerary complex at Giza (Steindorff cemetery)
Associated findsFragments of another statue depicting a woman carrying a child were found just north of the tomb
Associated fragments current locationMuseum of Leipzig
Associated fragments inventory numberInv. 2446

Physical characteristics

ConditionPreserves its polychromy
Height52.8 cm

Materials

MaterialLimestone

Technique

Surface treatmentPainted in multiple colors

Appearance

Stylistic conventionUses ancient artistic conventions to indicate gender and social function through skin color
Shared pose with comparison workIn both statues, the wife warmly embraces her husband
ComparisonCompared with the statue of the dwarf Seneb and his family
Interpretation of male skin toneSuggests men worked outdoors and were depicted as tanned
Interpretation of female skin toneSuggests women were associated with indoor domestic duties and therefore depicted with lighter skin
Hair and eye treatmentWigs and outlined eyes painted black
Female figure skin colorYellowish skin tone standard for female figures
Female figure depictionMeresankh is shown warmly embracing her husband
Male figure skin colorTraditional reddish skin tone used for men
Male figure depictionRaherka is shown with carefully modeled musculature

Location and ownership

Current locationLouvre
Inventory numberE 15592

Significance

Art historical significanceNotable example of Old Kingdom portraiture in ancient Egypt

History and restoration

Dating by Hermann JunkerEnd of the Old Kingdom
Suggested datePossibly the Fifth Dynasty
Alternative date hypothesisPossibly the Fourth Dynasty, based on the wife's pose and the names