A limestone stela with rounded top and flat sides; to the top the winged sun-disc of Ra Horakhty with uraei framing the disc of the sun; below, the owner with broad collar and long kilt, one hand raised in prayer, the other holding an offering vessel; in the centre a large offering table heaped with food and flowers; in front of the offering table the figure of Osiris standing on plinth with mummiform body and wearing the White Crown of Lower Egypt, hands extended forward holding a staff topped by the ankh and djed symbols, wearing broad collar with large menat counterpoise behind; columns of hieroglyphs behind the figures, two large was sceptres flanking the scene; below, four horizontal columns of hieroglyphs beginning on the right with an offering formula to Osiris and the owner's name, a priestly treasurer, and the name of his mother; vertical columns of hieroglyphs to the sides of the stela.

PROVENANCE:
Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s.

FOOTNOTES:
Stelae such as this were placed in a chapel above a tomb, usually in front of a statue of the deceased that was placed in a niche, and where the relatives came to offer food and drink and pray to the spirit of the dead person; the stelae also acted as a spiritual portal through which the soul of the deceased could pass to partake of the offerings left in the chapel.

These stelae are inscribed with the name and title of the tomb owner along with prayers to Osiris; they generally depict the deceased, and members of their family, worshipping the gods. The act of mentioning the name of the deceased at regular funerary rituals was an integral part for the survival of the soul in the afterlife, as well as allow later generations to remember their lineage.

As well as prayers and spells to help the deceased they also had 'autobiographies', which were accounts of the life of the deceased, praising their qualities as well as good deeds carried out when they were alive, thus furthering their chances in the afterlife.