The block statue of snnmwt and nfrwra

<!--<!--

This statue is of a style called a block statue which means that it is sculptured on a mass of stone. The block statue usually represents a man in a squatting position with his arms crossed under his chin and his hands on his knees. This type of statues appeared from the old kingdom time but they were widely spread in the middle kingdom time. In this statue there is an innovation of the new kingdom time and that is the head of the child emerging from the man’s garment. There are many theories concerning the block statues:

<!--It is a comfortable and respectable way of seating

<!--Used in mass production in art

<!--To give enough space for writing

Sennmut the most favored person of the reign of Hatshepsut started his life as an officer in the time of Thutmosis I and had managed to be promoted to the highest official positions. He held more than 80 titles the most important of which were “tutor of her daughter queen nefrure”, “steward of the estates of Amen”, “overseer of the queen’s households” and “chancellor of the king of Lower Egypt” as well as “overseer of construction”

Although he started his life as a commoner he became close to the queen and had helped her and supervised most of the architectural projects of her time. He was the one responsible for building her the unique mortuary temple of Deir El Bahari as the paradise of god Amen-Re. This unique temple which has no equal was built in the form of three terraces rising to the sanctuary and on its walls depicted three important scenes:

<!--The Divine Birth

<!--The Expedition to Punt

<!--The transportation of the queen’s obelisks to the Karnak Temple

He was also responsible for works undertaken at Karnak, Luxor and Armant. It was due to his importance that the queen allowed him to dig his grave under the yard of her temple; he also had his image engraved 70 times in her temple. He was rewarded by the queen with two tombs at Thebes which was a special privilege for important persons. Sennmut had more that 20 statues 8 of which are together with princess Nefrure.

The end of his career is uncertain, his name began to disappear around the 16th and 17th year of the queen’s reign probably because he died or had fallen into disgrace. His name was erased of his monuments and his tomb was ruined. Opinions differ as to weather this had been done by the queen herself or by Thutmosis III or by Akhenaton or even Ramsis II

Princess Nefrure was the child of Hatshepsut and Thutmosis II of full royal blood, she should have become the child of the king’s successor Thutmosis III whose mother was not from royal blood. She died prematurely during the 11th year of the reign of Hatshepsut. Here she is represented having a plated tress in her hair a common feature of royal children, ornamented with the ureas which a sign that she was heir to the throne.

Concerning sennmut he appears here with the features of a young man with full cheeks and a smooth round face, wide open eyes with long lashes represented in relief, large ears and a small straight full mouth and a long hair wig gathered behind the ears.

The sides of the statue were ideal for placing a long inscription counting Sennmut’s numerous titles and functions. Also here we can see a Htp di nswt formula which is most often written on false doors and coffins, but it appears here to mark the place of offerings.

The offering formula:

Htp di nisw htp di imn ra nTr nsw nswbity mn xpr ra di s pr xrw Hnqt tAw aAw Abdw Ssb snTr

May the king be kind and give may god Amen-Re be kind and give, king of the gods, king of Upper and Lower Egypt Thutmosis III (her name was erased by Thutmosis III) give her thousands of offering; beer, bread, cows, geese, alabaster, incense

Her name is written inside a cartough on the left side Hmt nTr nfrwra meaning the god’s wife the beauties of Re. The name of Sennmut is written in the 6th row of the front side