The artwork “Stela of Aafenmut,” originating from Ancient Egypt, dates back to approximately 924 – 889 BC and notably belongs to the 3rd Intermediate Period. Crafted from wood and paint, it serves as a religious and symbolic painting with dimensions of 23 x 18.2 cm. This significant piece currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The stela features a meticulously painted scene embodying the rich symbology and religious narratives typical of its era. The upper portion of the artwork displays hieroglyphic inscriptions, presumably conveying a sacred text or offering formula. Dominating the scene on the left is a figure, likely a deity or another revered being, seated with a poised and solemn demeanor, adorned with elaborate traditional attire and bearing symbolic regalia. Confronting this figure on the right side stands another personage, possibly a worshiper or priest, engaged in an act of offering, holding a floral bouquet and gesturing with reverence. The background and spaces are replete with vivid colors and intricate designs, which are characteristic of ancient Egyptian artistry, contributing to the stela’s profound ceremonial and aesthetic resonance.