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Bivalve-shaped Stone

New Kingdom
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 116
This stone is inscribed, "The Good Goddess, Maatkare, she made [it] as her monument for her father, Amun-Re, at the stretching of the cord over Djeser-djeseru-Amun (Hatshepsut's mortuary temple), which she did while alive." Sometimes described as clamshells because of their shape, stones such as this one probably represent tools of some sort, such as hammering stones, that would have been used in the construction of the building.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bivalve-shaped Stone
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Temple of Hatshepsut, Foundation Deposit 7 (G), MMA excavations, 1926–27
  • Medium: Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
  • Dimensions: L. 12.5 cm (4 15/16 in.); W. 7.2 cm (2 13/16 in.); Th. 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1927
  • Object Number: 27.3.400
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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