Seated statue of Senwosret III (ca. 1836-1818 BC) Brooklyn Museum
Senwosret III (Sometimes called “Senusret” or “Sesostris”) ruled during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom in the 19th century BC. He is credited with sweeping reforms that reestablished the supremacy of the central government. During the first intermediate period the Pharaohs struggled to exercise control over the land, local nobles often wielded more power than the king. Until Senwosret III came along. He divided the land into four provinces, each headed by a vizier. The nobles reported to the viziers and the viziers to Senwosret. The lavish tombs for local nobles, common during the first intermediate period, cease to be built during his reign; a clear indication of the efficacy of his reform.
A seated Pharaoh is a classic trope in Egyptian art. That’s one thing about the Egyptians that I love, their deep affinity for tradition. Kings don’t deviate from long established traditions when it comes to depictions of themselves. One thing worth noting, however, is the expression on Senwosret’s face. His mouth curves slightly downwards and the high cheekbones give the statue a very stern visage. The change in appearance is obvious when viewing statues of other middle kingdom rulers, like Senwosret I.
If I had to guess, the stern facial features are intended to remind the viewer that Senwosret is no pushover. He came to reestablish the legitimacy of the Pharaoh and chew bubble gum, and he’s all out of bubble gum.
