3rd Dynasty statue
- Gallery: Room 64
- Culture: 3rd Dynasty
- Date: 2686BC-2613BC (circa)
- Object type: statue
- Materials: red granite
- Museum number: EA171
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is a statue carved from rich red granite, dating back to the 3rd Dynasty, around 2686 to 2613 BC. This is a remarkably preserved representation of an official named Ankhwa.
He sits on a stool with hollowed sides, holding an adze in his left hand while resting his right hand on his lap. Ankhwa wears a short kilt and a full wig with finely carved curls. His face, though heavy-featured, shows careful craftsmanship—especially the bold mouth with smooth, carved lips and open, rounded eyes.
Look closely at his kilt: you'll find a small inscription in low relief. It gives his name and title—possibly “Shipwright,” a detail linking him to a specific profession or honor.
This statue was likely excavated from Saqqara or Giza, part of a tradition of monumental portraiture in ancient Egypt. The figure’s realistic yet symbolic form reflects the artistic priorities of the time, when official statues were both personal and powerful.
See it in person
3rd Dynasty statue is on display in Room 64 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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