Black granite statue of King Sesostris III (One of Two) at The British Museum, London

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This life-size statue of Senwosret III (1874-1855 BC) stands tall among three similar statues in the British Museum collections excavated from the site of King Nebhhepetre Mentuhotep II's funerary temple (2055-2004 BC), a predecessor of Senwosret. Senwosret restored and endowed this temple, which hosted an important local annual festival that likely inspired the statues' dedication out of respect for the earlier king and the event. The statues showcase Senwosret in prayer, standing with hands flat on his kilt's front, marking them as the earliest examples of devotional pose representation. In contrast to his youthful, muscular torso, Senwosret's face is depicted with expressive furrows and lines, while his large ears may symbolize the ruler's readiness to listen. This new style of portrayal, distinct from idealized royal representations in other periods, characterizes this reign. Contemporary poetry spoke of the heaviest burden, rulership, lying on the king, and this powerfully modelled portrait seems to reflect that truth. The expressiveness of the portrait is a representation of responsible kingship rather than personal characteristics. T.G.H James, an Egyptologist, describes it as such. This object contributes to "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks from around the globe for free access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how.