An Interesting New Kingdom Stela from Thebes Cairo Museum (CG 34045)

A New Kingdom stela (CG 34045) from the Theban necropolis, housed at the Cairo Museum, presents a unique dual function as both a false door and a stelophorous statue. This rare artifact, attributed to Userhat during the early reign of Thutmose III, features an innovative design combining high-relief carvings of a human head with raised hands in adoration within a rounded frame. The composition suggests it was intended to serve dual funerary roles: facilitating the deceased's daily resurrection through solar symbolism and fulfilling requests for offerings. Iconographical and textual details on the stela support this interpretation, bridging two key themes in ancient Egyptian mortuary practices.

Metawi, R. (2015). An Interesting New Kingdom Stela from Thebes Cairo Museum (CG 34045). Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 51(1), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.5913/jarce.51.2015.a015