The statue of Menkaure and a queen, probably Khamerernebty II is a notable statue uncovered by the archaeologists excavating in Menkaure's valley temple. Menkaure was an Egyptian king ruling during the Old Kingdom and is remembered for his famous tomb, the Pyramid of Menkaure. Like the other kings who preceded him, Menkaure had several wives, Khamerernebty II and Rekhter. Like many of the other sculptures that preceded this, the artist used the same canon, having the hands being straight beside the human body and the king standing next to his queen. The canon sculpture and its placid nature of the statue contributes to the idea of the pharaoh representing the king going by the belief that gods possess, or take residence, within the pharaoh’s
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For example, the plump cheeks of the queen and the fullness in her breasts are all essential traits used to depict a healthy and well cared for woman. The dip near Khamerernebty’s pelvis shows the abdomen in relation to the hips and the legs. Similarly, Menkaure is sculpted with defining facial features such as the high nose bridge, high cheekbones, and plump lips. His torso is chiseled in a way to reveal and fit physique to show that he is a strong ruler and can hold his ground. This idea is supported by placing his hand sternly by his side. The sculpture of Menkaure and Khamerernebty are relatively natural save for their emotionless face and the lack of contrapposto in their human figures.
The placement of Menkaure and Khamerernebty show the closeness of the monarchy and the strength in which they represent. The sculpture is built on a large block of rock with the sculptor only chiseling away enough to make the sculpture fully into the round. As opposed to just the figures being by themselves there is a clear wall that shown to support them. The king and queen both standing upright parallel to the pedestal, their stoic facial expression shows their dominance over their kingdom and that they are prepared to rule and defend their
For example, the plump cheeks of the queen and the fullness in her breasts are all essential traits used to depict a healthy and well cared for woman. The dip near Khamerernebty’s pelvis shows the abdomen in relation to the hips and the legs. Similarly, Menkaure is sculpted with defining facial features such as the high nose bridge, high cheekbones, and plump lips. His torso is chiseled in a way to reveal and fit physique to show that he is a strong ruler and can hold his ground. This idea is supported by placing his hand sternly by his side. The sculpture of Menkaure and Khamerernebty are relatively natural save for their emotionless face and the lack of contrapposto in their human figures.
The placement of Menkaure and Khamerernebty show the closeness of the monarchy and the strength in which they represent. The sculpture is built on a large block of rock with the sculptor only chiseling away enough to make the sculpture fully into the round. As opposed to just the figures being by themselves there is a clear wall that shown to support them. The king and queen both standing upright parallel to the pedestal, their stoic facial expression shows their dominance over their kingdom and that they are prepared to rule and defend their