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Statue of a Striding Man
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Statue of a Striding Man
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
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Statue of a Striding Man

Artifact IDMO 95.72
Object Type Sculpture
Date Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty (2450-2290 B.C.)
Date Presented11/3/61
Place MadeGiza, Egypt, Africa
Medium Painted limestone
DimensionsOverall H 31 in (78.7 cm )

Physical DescriptionLimestone figure of a striding man standing on a rectangular base; skin painted with red ochre. He stands with his hands clenched at his sides and wears a short kilt pleated on one side and drawn up through the belt, a narrow collar, and a short layered coiffure. The entire figure shows traces of polychrome pigment.
Historical NoteThis statue of an ancient Egyptian dignitary was given by President Gamal Abd el-Nasser of Egypt to President John F. Kennedy in appreciation for President Kennedy's support of the efforts to preserve the ancient temples and monuments of Nubia endangered by the waters rising behind the High Dam at Aswan.

Sculptures like this were enclosed with other such figures in the statue chambers of Old Kingdom tombs to perpetuate the owner's life for eternity. The style indicates that this statue was made in a workshop at Giza, where the great Fourth Dynasty pyramids were surrounded by dignitaries' tombs from the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift to the President Kennedy from the President of Egypt. It was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 1995 by the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteThis material is not subject to any known copyright or other image use restrictions.
On view