Published Fragment of the Diorite Statue of Governor Wahibre

Culture: Egyptian

Period: 26th dynasty, 664-525 B.C.

Material: Diorite

Dimensions: 12 cm x 12.5 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 1209

Provenance: Old French collection from the 1st half of the 20th century. Accompanied by a French antiquities passport.

Condition: Fragment

Description: A high-quality fragment of the back pillar of a possibly life-size diorite statue. The two-columned, vertical hieroglyph inscription refers the fragment to the Elephantine island. The right column mentions a “leader of the southerners”. This title is an indication for a person from Elephantine. The well-known French Egyptologist Olivier Perdu attributes the fragment in a six page long publication clearly to a statue of Wahibre, the governor of Upper Egypt, who served under Pharaoh Amasis (570-526), fifth ruler of the 26th dynasty. Wahibre was from Sais, once the capital city from the Egyptian kingdom and was sent off as the administrator for Upper Egypt. He served in Elephantine also as the supervisor for customs related issues. Approximately ten statues and fragments with his name are still preserved today, amongst them the famous block statue depicting him as the governor from Upper Egypt which is today with the inventory number A91 in the Louvre museum in Paris. An old collection label from the 1st half of the 20th century on the back of the fragment also mentions as the archaeological site Elephantine. The island, which today belongs to the city of Assuan, was in ancient times the border city between Egypt and Nubia and an important trading centre for shipping. Mounted. The fragment has been published and extensively described by the French Egyptologist Olivier Perdu. His article is enclosed to the object.