EC62

Soldier stela

 First Intermediate Period stela c.31cm long, 28cm wide and 6cm deep. This shows a man in front holding a bow in his left hand and arrows in his right hand. He wears a broad collar. A woman stands behind him and reaches toward his head with her left hand. Both face right.  

‘415’ is written in blue pencil on reverse. There is also a label with ‘393’ adhering to reverse.  

Stelae like this with bowmen are called ‘soldier stelae’. The Egypt Centre has another ‘soldier stela’ on display (W1366). The predominance of soldier stelae may be a result of the civil war in this period. Nubian bowmen were frequently employed in Egypt as soldiers. Vandier (1954) suggests that only soldiers killed in action were allowed stelae, which may also explain why they appear hastily made.

Further reading:

Vandier, J. 1954, Manuel d’archéologie égyptienne, II, Paris: A. et J. Picard et Cie, 468-469.

Fischer, H.G. 1964, Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome, Rome: Biblical Institute Press, 50-102.

 

Other items associated with warfare in the Egypt Centre