Egyptian art - Relief sculpture. Stele of Chia - scribe & treasurer of Ramses II

Stele of Chia

19th dynasty scribe & treasurer


Dimensions -

Height - 12.8 cm / 5 inches

Width - 8.7 cm / 3-1/4 inches

Depth - 2 cm / 3/4 inches


This intricate relief carving is a replica of an actual ancient artwork and is made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone with a well developed ancient green patina.


Background information

It is a very surprising piece because of the economical style of the ancient sculptor. The size of hieroglyphs suggest single strokes of the chisel or pike with no mistakes. A confident hand writing perhaps made by the scribe himself.

Although there is a lot of detail the figures are carved with minimal modelling and this absolutely works on a visual level because of the accuracy and depth of the line. It is uniform and harmonious to look at.


"Behold the kingdom's scribe"....

As mentioned in the hieroglyphic text in column two.

One can still behold this ancient man as the stele functions almost like a calling card or a photograph with a message to the gods inscribed to give thanks and praise.

The three gods featured in the upper register are : Amun - god of Thebes (the hidden one)

Ra - god of Heliopolis ( the principal sun god)

Ptah - god of Memphis (creator god - patron of artists)

Amun wears his signature tall plumed crown and holds a 'Was' sceptre which represents dominion of the land. He also holds the 'Ankh' symbol by his side which is the hieroglyph of life.

Ra is shown in his most typical representation of a man with the head of a hawk or falcon with the disc of the sun directly on his head. The disc is surrounded by a protective cobra, here seen with the tail jutting out at the back and the head of the cobra at the front. He also holds the Was sceptre and Ankh as he faces Amun.

Ptah stands in a shrine, wrapped like a mummy and wearing a skull cap. He also holds a Was, but this is a composite variety of the sceptre that includes the Djed pillar hinted at with the four horizontal lines that cross above his clutched hands.

Chia is to be seen as the largest figure, kneeling in the bottom right hand corner. His hands are raised in adoration of the gods and his typical 19th dynasty pleated garment shows he is a man of high office.

He was the scribe and treasurer of Ramses the Great.

*As each item is handmade, slight colour variations may occur.