Stela of Amenemhat

ca. 1938-1875 B.C.E.

The four lines of hieroglyphic text at the top of this stela list what every Egyptian wanted in the afterlife: “thousands of portions of cattle, fowl, bread, alabaster, linen, and all kinds of green vegetables.” The inscription below mentions the name of the deceased, a man called Amunemhat, and his mother, Shabut. Amunemhat’s image appears just to the left of the offering table in the traditional place of honor. He was probably born in the reign of Amunemhat I and named for that king.