FRAGMENT OF A BAS-RELIEF WITH THE NAME OF SHEPENUPET... Lot 24

FRAGMENT OF A BAS-RELIEF WITH THE NAME OF SHEPENUPET II Egypt, Late Period, Dynasty XXV, 710-650 Sandstone Dim_ 50,5 x 95,5 cm Provenance Known on the art market since 1970 and having belonged to a Dutch dealer dealer from Soesdijk Private collection of Mr X. (1931-2017) dispersed for the benefit of the Monegasque Monegasque Red Cross A LATE PERIOD SANDSTONE RELIEF WITH THE NAME OF SHEPENWEPET II, DYNASTY 25TH, 710-650 B.c. 20 x 38 in. Carved in low relief with three representations of Nile god, Hapy, kneeling and depicted in his usual form, swollen-bellied, wearing and abbreviated belt and loincloth, long hair and pendulous femal breasts. Each head surmounted by papyrus and lotus stems, they bear a tray with offerings (two hes-vases and ouas scepter). All his attributes symbolized the fertility Hapy supplied and as such were interchangeable with those of other so-called fecundity figures (see Wadj-Wer). Beginning in the 5th dynasty (mortuary temple of Sahure), the lower registers of temple walls were often decorated with depictions of Hapy and other fecundity figures bearings offerings into the temple as gifts and sustaining supplies for the temple's divine owners. In this relief, each figure is separated by a hieroglyphic column with the cartouche of the Divine Adoratrice of Amun, Shepenwepet II, daughter of the first Kushite pharaoh Piye and sister of his successor Taharqa. This fragment probably comes from her mortuary temple in Medinet Habu, near Thebes.