Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old limestone statue of an Egyptian family that they say is unlike any previously discovered.
The unique artifact portrays an ancient Egyptian family consisting of a nobleman with his wife, both of whom are sculpted as three-dimensional figures, while the couple’s daughter appears carved more simply into the side of the stone.
The statue, described in a recent study by Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Sarah Abdoh, represents the first known example of an Old Kingdom family statue depicting an individual in this unusual manner.
A Nobleman and His Family
The statue was discovered in 2021 at an enclosure within Saqqara known as Gisr el-Mudir. The main figure of the statue appears to be a nobleman whose left foot is forward, symbolizing vitality and strength. He is depicted wearing a short wig and a pleated kilt. The sculptor also emphasized the figure’s upper body, detailing the shoulders, chest, and arms.
Next to him, a woman, presumed to be his wife, kneels and holds onto his right leg. She is shown wearing a sheath dress, a broad collar, and a shoulder-length wig. Her smaller scale relative to the nobleman reflects an artistic convention, with size indicating social status or hierarchy.

The third figure sets this piece apart. A daughter appears in the background, carved into the stone beside her father’s leg. She is depicted in an artistic style known as bas-relief, only slightly raised above the surface. She extends one arm, holding on to her father’s leg, while clutching a goose in her other hand.
Found Without Context
The statue was recovered from the sands of Saqqara, apparently dropped or abandoned by tomb robbers. Found out of context, archaeologists could not link it to a specific tomb or date it by inscription.
As a result, researchers relied on stylistic analysis, comparing the statue’s proportions, hairstyles, and clothing to other known examples. Through this process, they determined that the piece most likely dates to the 5th Dynasty, a period spanning approximately 2494 to 2345 BCE.
An Artistic Experiment
A particularly close parallel can be found in the family statue of Irukaptah. Both works depict a nobleman standing with his left foot forward, dressed in similar kilts and wigs, accompanied by a kneeling wife at his side. In the Irukaptah statue, the son is fully sculpted in the traditional three-dimensional representation of family members. Despite these similarities, the Gisr el-Mudir statue stands out for its two-dimensional portrayal of the daughter.
Family statues from the Old Kingdom generally depicted all members as fully three-dimensional figures. By combining full sculpture for the parents with a simple carving for the daughter, the Gisr el-Mudir piece challenges established artistic conventions.
The reason for this unusual treatment remains uncertain. It may reflect a symbolic hierarchy, with the daughter occupying a less prominent position than her parents. It could also simply represent a practical decision to accommodate the composition within a single block of stone.
Whatever the motivation, this distinctive approach sets the statue apart within the tradition of Egyptian art.
Family and the Afterlife
These types of family statues played an essential role in Old Kingdom tombs. They embodied the deceased as well as their loved ones, ensuring their presence in eternity. Children would often appear holding animals or some kind of food. These offerings were meant to sustain the family in the afterlife. The daughter’s goose fits within this established pattern.
“It was common during the Old Kingdom to depict this scene,” Hawass explained. “Since there are no wall scenes preserved in this tomb that we could see, the statue of the daughter holding a goose may have served the same function, representing provisions for the afterlife.”
Rewriting the Rules
Although modest in scale, the Gisr el-Mudir statue contributes a new perspective to the study of Egyptian art. It demonstrates that Old Kingdom artisans experimented with form and symbolism, rather than strictly adhering to established formulas.
Fundamentally, this rare statue enhances our understanding of Egyptian art and reminds archaeologists that much about our understanding of the ancient world still remains unknown.
“This statue is the first of its kind in the Old Kingdom to depict a family member in such a unique way,” the authors conclude.
The study, “Family Statue from Gisr el-Mudir (Saqqara),” was published in The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology.
Austin Burgess is a writer and researcher with a background in sales, marketing, and data analytics. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, along with a certification in Data Analytics. His work combines analytical training with a focus on emerging science, aerospace, and astronomical research.
