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Triad of standing male figures

2465–2323 B.C.
FindspotGiza, Egypt
Medium/TechniquePainted limestone
DimensionsHeight: 25 cm (9 13/16 in.)
Credit LineHarvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
Accession number06.1882
On View
On view
ClassificationsSculpture
Description
The triad of standing figures represents three tenant farmers of the palace, NikauKhufu, KhuPtah and Hesi, who were most likely related to the tomb owner.Statues of the deceased and his family were frequently placed in a sealed room called a serdab, often connected to the offering chapel by a slit in the wall. Egyptians believed the ka, or spirit of the deceased, could enter a statue in the serdab and peer out of the slit. Food for the ka was placed on an offering table near the serdab. These three small statues and offering table were found in a serdab at Giza. The large standing pair statue from another tomb (see 06.1876) is similar to the one originally found with this group, and is now on display in the Cairo Museum.
ProvenanceFrom Giza, tomb G 2009. 1906: excavated by the Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; 1906: assigned to the MFA by the Egyptian government.
(Accession Date: November 8, 1906)