New Kingdom Stelophorous Statues

Coordinator: Alessandro Girardi

Supervisor PhD: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Hoffmann, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

The project, part of Alessandro Girardi’s PhD research, aims to analyze stelophorous statues from a typological, philological, and anthropological perspective, with the aim of investigating the evolution of this statue-ary type within the framework of the socio-cultural and religious transformations that characterized the New Kingdom (1539–1077 BCE).

Stelophorous statues underwent significant development and conceptual transformation during the New Kingdom, making them extremely versatile monuments suited to different functions and destinations, both funerary and temple-related. The research aims to analyze this phenomenon, seeking to understand whether the evolution of stelophorous statues should be interpreted as a conscious adaptation to religious changes and the social needs of the time, or whether it was influenced by the individual choices of of the people who commisioned the statues and/or sculptors, in line with the artistic trends of the period.

In the first phase of the research, the reference corpus will be defined, which is essential for an in-depth analysis of the topic. Each example will be individually documented and described, collecting all available information through different methodological approaches. Material and art-historical analysis will make it possible to investigate production processes and the typological transformation of stelophorous statues in the period under study. Textual and iconographic analysis will constitute a central element for the recontextualization of the monuments, particularly for dating and provenance determination. Philological study will also provide important tools for understanding these statues within the framework of religious and cultural developments of the New Kingdom. It will also be essential in shedding light on scribal practices, especially in relation to the processes of textual production and transmission. Prosopographical analysis will allow for the reconstruction of the original context of the stelophorous statues and the people who commissioned these monuments.

Link

Girardi, Alessandro, “A Votive Gift for the God Amun: The Stelophorous Statue of Neferhebef (Turin Cat. 3025)”, Rivista del Museo Egizio 8 (2024); https://doi.org/10.29353/rime.2024.5828

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New Kingdom Stelophorous Statues

New Kingdom Stelophorous Statues

Visit

Events

Collection and research

Touring exhibitions

Who we are

Fondazione Trasparente

HR and tenders

Press