Statue of Ankhwa

 

Statue of Ankhwa, from Saqqara (probably), Egypt, 2686-2613 BC                               

Notable architectural and cultural developments at the beginning of the Third Dynasty such as

the construction of the first (Step) Pyramid, lead to confident experiments with stone sculpture.

The red granite statue representing the official Ankhwa is, however, one of the rare examples of

private sculpture in the round antedating the Old Kingdom. The technical ability of the artist can

be seen by well-carved features displaying both realism and idealisation. On the kilt above the

left knee is a vertical line of inscription in low relief yielding his name.