egypt-museum:

Statue of the Vizier Paramessu as a Scribe

The statue of Paramessu, who later became Ramesses I, the founder of the 19th Dynasty, shows him in the classic pose of a seated scribe. Statues of this type are intended to depict a great man of letters, not just a mere scribe.

His facial features are calm and serious. Paramessu wears a wavy wig that ends in curls covering his forehead, just above his eyebrows. It flares toward the shoulders and hides the upper part of his ears.

His eyes are directed toward the unrolled papyrus on his lap and his hand is in the writing position. His body is wrapped in a long tight kilt, tied under his armpits and covering his crossed legs.

His name and titles are engraved around the base. The cartouche of King Horemheb is engraved on his right shoulder and on the right arm. Paramessu was the vizier and military chief during Horemheb’s reign before he gained the throne himself.

Granite, from Karnak Cachette. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 44863