An Egyptian diorite Torso A diorite torso of a Priest of Mendes, representing the priest, clad in a finely pleated shendjit kilt, striding forward, with his left leg advanced and his arms at his sides, his right fisted hand clutching an emblematic stave. He wears a necklace with an amulet pendant of the ram of Mendes and a belt inscribed with the name of Tcha-hapi-imou'. The back pillar is inscribed all along with three columns of hieroglyphic text. Egypt, Late Period, 4th century B.C. Height: 43,5 cm. Condition: front part (7 cm) of the left arm broken and fixed, small chips on the edges of the back pillar. Provenance: David-Weill Collection, Paris. Publication: H. De Meulenaere - P. MacKay, Mendes II, Warminster, 1976: p. 199, Pl. 25, n° 63, a-b. H. De Meulenaere, Chronique d'Égypte 41 (1966): p. 44, note 4. Exhibition: Égypte-France, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, Oct.-Nov. 1949: n° 149. This sculpture represents a priest named Tcha-hapi-imou'. The name, meaning "Let Apis seize them" is imprecatory and is a nationalist reference to the Persian invaders. The first column of inscriptions is autobiographical and mentions the functions of the priest of Mendes, the two others describe his qualities. This torso can be considered, through the beauty and polish of the stone, the quality of the sculpture and the fineness of the engraved inscriptions as one of the masterworks of the Late Period of Egyptian art. The text itself, through its richness and complexity, is, according to the specialists of the period, of the highest interest for searchers in Egyptology. We are most grateful to Olivier Perdu who has made a detailed translation of the inscriptions. Expert CNE : A. Kevorkian 21, quai Malaquais 75006 Paris Tél. : 01 42 60 72 91 Fax : 01 42 61 01 52 E-mail : [email protected] 250 000 / 300 000 €