Sekhmet and the work of a temple

Let your eyes settle on the seated figure with a lioness's head. Her body is upright and still. This is Sekhmet, an Egyptian goddess whose image brings the power of a lioness into human form. The large seated statue numbered N 2 is carved in diorite. Notice the sun disc above her head and the looped sign she holds. This sign is called the ankh and is associated with life. The statue belongs to the reign of Amenhotep III, an Egyptian king who ruled more than three thousand years ago. Its precise original temple setting is uncertain. What survives is the image itself, with a seated body, a lioness’s head and stone that gave those forms a lasting presence. A temple gave that presence daily care. Priests brought food and drink to a divine image as part of its ritual service. Here, the goddess's seated posture holds your attention without any dramatic action. Give the face another moment. The sculptor has made a powerful animal seem composed, attentive and enduring.