Statue of the steward Meri seated

 Statue of the steward Meri seated. Reign of Mentuhotep II. Limestone. Eleventh Dynasty, early reign of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (ca. 2051-2030). Probably Thebes. Trustees of the British Museum (AES 37896). « This statue is a three-dimensional example of the style known from reliefs of the early reign of Mentuhotep II, with a short upper body, high waist, long legs, and almond-shaped eyes with flaring cosmetic lines. Based on their similarity to a hieroglyph for "assemble", the crossed arms may have a funerary meaning, perhaps expressing the confidence that Meri's body would be made whole again and thus ready for eternal life. The statue likely originates from a tomb in western Thebes. »

public domain