Central Panel from a Shrine for a Divine Image
Description
Object Label: The central panel here is inscribed for the Thirtieth Dynasty king Nectanebo II (reigned circa 360–342 B.C.). It comes from a shrine that presumably held a cult statue of the squatting goddess it depicts. Showing a figure in heavy, enveloping robes like this was a standard way of representing deities and symbolizing protection and the potential for life and regeneration. The resemblance to a wrapped mummy has led some Egyptologists to wonder: Is a mummy a body stylized into a divine image? The side panels are probably from a different and earlier shrine. Caption: Central Panel from a Shrine for a Divine Image, 362–343 B.C.E.. Wood, glass, 18 1/2 x 13 3/8 x 1 3/8 in. (47 x 34 x 3.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.258E. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
AI image analysis GPT-4o-2024-08-06
Machine-generated from the object's image on May 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.
The artifact depicts an intricately carved wood relief with a winged figure and hieroglyphics.
This wooden relief showcases a detailed carving of a winged figure, possibly a deity. The figure is adorned with ornate details such as a headdress and jewelry. Surrounding the central figure are carefully etched hieroglyphics, possibly signifying religious or ceremonial context. Notable features include the colorful inlays and symmetrical composition, typical of Egyptian artistry.
Cross-references (2)
- BKM-Accession 37.258E tier-2
- BKM-Object 3998 tier-2
About this record's data
- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Brooklyn Museum — Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art.
- AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
- Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
- Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.