Djehuty A unique Stela from the Fayoum in the Egyptian Museum

photo source : Masterpieces At The Grand Egyptian Museum

Djehuty a unique round-topped stela of black granite that was found in the Fayoum area.It dates back to the Roman period. The figures and inscriptions are in sunken relief. The stela is fairly well preserved, except for the upper part of the figure on the left side, and the lower left corner which are broken.

This stela has two characteristics, first: on its top a unique representation of the head of the deceased having Greco-Roman features. Second; there is a difference in the distribution of the scenes on the surface of the stela where the hieroglyphic text is between two scenes. It seems that the stela is unfinished especially in the lower part representing the deceased offering to Osiris and Isis; if it had been completed we would have expected to find the name and titles of every figure represented on the stela.

As for the text, some of the writings are not deeply carved, so too hard to read and some signs are without determinatives and confused with others signs.

On the rounded top the winged solar disk is represented with two hanging uraei, one of them wearing the white crown while the other wears the red crown. Each of them holds the wind sign and the wAs scepter offering them to the ba bird with human head , standing upon the sign of with a anx-sign in front of it.

Under the winged sun disk a row of figures are represented divided in two at the middle by two back to back figures of the god Sokar. On the right the deceased is led by the god Horus towards the gods Ptah, Nefertum, Sekhmet and Sokar, while the goddess Imentet with the usual symbol above the head, stands behind the deceased with behind her the jackal-headed god Anubis. The left scene is similar to that on the right. But here the gods towards whom the deceased is led are Amon, Horus, Tatenen and the falconheaded god Sokar. A damaged figure of a goddess stands behind the deceased.

Djehuty stela has a fairly unusual style: the head of the deceased is showing a Greco-Roman style in the curls of the hair and the garland surrounding it; and also in the features of the face is depicted as if coming out from the top of the round-top of the stela.

This round-topped stela of black granite measuring 99 cm in height and 53 cm in width. 

Source:Abdel-Raḥman Ali Abdel-Raḥman Faculty of Archaeology - Cairo University

The Djehuty stela is typically Ancient Egyptian because it shows Djehuty making offerings to Egyptian gods and goddesses. But it’s also unusual because this Egyptian scene also features Djehuty’s Roman-style head carved on top.