A Wish-List for Amun

The Theophorous Statue National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh, A.1952.53

Abstract

First publication of a small kneeling theophorous statue featuring a statuette of Amun, currently in Edinburgh. Dating to the 4th century BCE (Dynasty 30-early Ptolemaic), this object bears multiple parallels to statues from the Karnak Cachette, and thus likely also originates from Thebes. The owner’s face and names are destroyed, suggesting the effigy was intentionally mutilated in antiquity. Nonetheless the remaining hieroglyphic text presents a unique prayer to Amun, featuring multiple interesting spellings and another attestation of the mysterious phrase “descending after his brother.”