Haremhab as a Scribe of the King

myminifactory

Haremhab was a powerful royal scribe and general who led the army under King Tutankhamun's rule. He continued serving during the reign of Queen Aya, eventually succeeding her as king after she stepped down. This magnificent statue showcases Haremhab before he ascended to the throne, boldly declaring himself part of the elite group of educated individuals by depicting himself as a scribe. By embracing this tradition, more than a thousand years old, Haremhab proudly stands out among his peers as a man of wisdom and learning. He sits with poise, yet relaxed, gazing slightly downward. Across his knees, he unrolls a papyrus scroll containing a hymn to the revered god Thoth, patron deity of scribes. A delicate shell holding ink lies on his left knee. Over his left shoulder, a strap is securely fastened, holding a miniature scribe's kit attached to each end. On his forearm, an intricate figure of the mighty god Amun is skillfully incised, possibly indicating a tattoo. The unlined, youthful face on this statue contrasts with the potbelly and folds of flesh beneath the breasts, conveying that the subject has reached a wise age through life experience. Although the formal scribal pose exhibits the characteristic frontal orientation common to all Egyptian statues, it can be fully appreciated as a three-dimensional sculpture without any back pillar. The youthful face bears striking resemblance to features seen on many statues depicting King Tutankhamun (50.6), and this outstanding life-size sculpture retains some of the softness and naturalism of the earlier Amarna period while anticipating later Ramesside art.