Nikola Benin. Intef / Antef II

 Nikola Benin

Eleventh Dynasty: 2 134 - 1 991 BC

Intef / Antef II

Standing figure of Antef II, circa  1 950 BC

Dimensions: 370 x 122 x 186 mm.

This cloaked statue of Intef / Antef probably originated in the later Eleventh Dynasty, or at the beginning of the Twelfth Dynasty, indicated by the characteristics of the hieroglyphic and hieratic signs. The dense covering of the long mantle, the severity of the deep wig, and the arms that cross over the chest, strictly limit the structure of the body to the essentials. The hands clenched in fists once held objects. The column-like subdivided legs show Antef slightly stepping forward, the oversized feet and the bulky base are only simply shown.

The well-preserved painting shows black hair and red skin. The clothing now shows only bare limestone, but was originally painted white. The base and backposts are red with black dots as an imitation of granite. The blue-painted hieroglyphs identify his brother Inherhotep and his sister Nachti, as well as denoting him as 'the honored one at Ptah-Sokaris-Intef, born of Sat-Mechit'.

Catalog: Painted limestone, Thebes, ÄM 12485
Photo: Don Hitchcock 2015, 2018
Source: Original, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Neues Museum, Germany