During the First Intermediate Period in ancient Egypt, centralized authority broke down and local chieftains claimed power, marking a decline. King Mentuhotep II later reunited Egypt and established the Middle Kingdom period. Middle Kingdom pharaohs sought a return to tradition and increasingly used large statues to assert their authority. However, the pharaoh Senwosret III was uniquely depicted with realistic, aged facial features rather than idealized features, though this shift was short-lived and representations returned to depicting pharaohs as immortal gods in the New Kingdom.

1. Ancient Egypt
The Middle Kingdom

2. Palette of Narmer, c. 3,000-2950 BCE
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
From the time of King Narmer, Egypt had been unified under one Pharaoh -- and this
stable form of government lasted for over 1,000 years

3. Palette of Narmer, c. 3,000-2950 BCE
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
But during the First Intermediate period (lasting about 125 years from c. 2181–2055
BCE) centralized authority broke down

4. Palette of Narmer, c. 3,000-2950 BCE
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Local chieftains claimed power, and there was a significant decline in artistic production
(major building projects such as the construction of pyramids ceased), and quality

5. Statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep
II in the Jubilee Garment,, c.
2051-2000 BCE
Dynasty 11, Middle Kingdom
Metropolitan Museum
Menuthotep II brought an end to the First Intermediate Period by reuniting Egypt under
centralized authority, marking the beginning of the Middle Kingdom

6. Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh Seated ,c.
1919–1878 B.C.) Staatliche Museen zu
Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und
Papyrussammlung ; Long‐term loan to The
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Middle Kingdom Pharaohs sought a return to tradition, as seen in this statue of
Amenemhat III, a Pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom, now on view at the Metropolitan
Museum – on permanent loan from the Egyptian Museum in Berlin

7. A key change is the increase in scale – during the Middle and New Kingdoms, Pharaohs
increasingly resorted to the strategy of colossal size to assert their authority

8. Senwosret III, c. 1836-1818 BCE
12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom
Brooklyn Museum
This statue is one of several representing the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh Senwosret III

9. Senwosret III, c. 1836-1818 BCE
12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom
Brooklyn Museum
While almost identical to the Seated Statue of Khafre, dating to the Old Kingdom, there
is a significant difference in the representation of the kings facial features

10. Head of a Statue of Sesostris III c. 1872-1854 BCE
12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Unlike his predecessors, who were shown with idealized facial features, Senwosret has
heavily lidded eyes, lined and haggard cheeks, and pursed lips

11. Head of a Statue of Sesostris III c. 1872-1854 BCE
12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Instead of emphasizing the king’s godlike immortality, the portrait-like features seem to
emphasize his humanity

12. Face of Senwosret III, c. 1878-1840 BCE
12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom
Metropolitan Museum
Scholars are uncertain about what caused this shift in representational strategies –
perhaps the goal was to portray the Pharaoh as a more human and care-worn leader of
his people

13. But the change was short lived; during the New Kingdom there was a return to
representations of the Pharoah as an ageless and immortal god

14. Thanks for listening
Next up: The New Kingdom