Seated Scribe

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The Seated Scribe sculpture is a renowned piece of ancient Egyptian art that depicts a seated figure at work. A scribe sits in a seated position, dressed in a white kilt stretched down to his knees, holding a half-rolled papyrus in his hands. His right hand was originally holding a brush, which is now missing. The scribe has a soft and slightly overweight body, indicating that he is well-off and does not need to engage in physical labor. He sits in a cross-legged position, typical of his normal work posture. His facial expression is alert and attentive, gazing out at the viewer as if waiting for them to begin speaking. A ready-made papyrus scroll lies on his lap, but the reed-brush used to write is missing. Both hands are positioned on his lap, with his right hand pointing towards the paper as if he has already started writing while watching others speak. Scribes were among the few individuals who knew how to read and write, and they held high status and good pay. Most people were peasant farmers who did not need literacy skills, but scribes played a crucial role in various aspects of Egyptian life. They worked on projects such as pyramid building and helped communicate between rulers and the Egyptian people. Scribes were also used for tasks like tax collection, organizing personnel for activities like mining and trade, and even war efforts.