Provenance unspecified; may have been discovered near Thebes

Dated stylistically to the reign of Amenhotep III, this limestone statue may well represent the crown prince Thutmose in his role as a sem-priest. The statue portrays a young man kneeling to present an offering table in his outstretched arms, both of which have been partially broken, their pieces lost along with the front of the table and the inscription it would have born. It is interesting to note that, rather than appearing broken like the arms, the front of the table looks as though it may have been chiseled away.

The young prince wears the priests' sacred leapord skin tied about his neck by one set of paws, the others embracing his plump sides. The leapord skin is painted yellow, as are his arm and wrist bands (the remains of which are on his left wrist) and the sash encircling his waist. The current whiteness of his skin is due to the limestone, itself; originally, Thutmose's flesh was painted red. His Nubian wig has been colored black, though the attached Horus lock has been painted dark blue. This carefully groomed tress was represenative of youth and purity and would have symbolically associate him with the god Horus. In the case of Thutmose, it would have also signalled his royal status.

Statues were often placed in temples on behalf of their owners, who could benefit from the proximity of the gods via association. Priests--including Pharaoh, Egypt's priest par excellence--could also use such statues to perpetually present offerings in the place of the god. As crown prince and sem-priest, Thutmose would have been entitled to his share of statues and blessings.