NARRATOR: The Egyptians believed that the king had divine attributes. But here is a god that has some of the characteristics of a king. He wears the red crown of Lower Egypt, the northern Nile delta region, and has the features of King Amenemhat II. But his kilt and scepter, and even the beard that used to jut out from his chin, are those of a god. This beautifully carved figure was found in the tomb of a high official named Imhotep near the pyramid of Senwosret I at Lisht. Dorothea Arnold is Lila Acheson Wallace Curator in Charge of the Department of Egyptian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

DOROTHEA ARNOLD: I would like to draw your attention to the way the torso of this figure is modeled. The lower end of the rib cage is just faintly indicated below the skin and muscles. This subtlety is typical for the best ancient Egyptian woodcarving. Just look at the arms too, how the flesh folds under the pit of the arm, and the various muscles on the arm itself: there is much close observation of natural forms behind such masterful renderings.