The Old Kingdom dyad statue of King Menkaura and Queen (c. 2490–2472 BCE) is carved in high relief with a rigid, frontal posture and clenched fists. Which of the following best describes the primary function of this stylized, block-like design?
- To ensure the statue's physical permanence and durability as an eternal home for the king's spirit (*ka*)Cevap
- BTo depict the king actively walking forward to symbolize his physical preparation for military combat
- CTo represent the royal couple in a realistic, informal portrait capturing a moment of daily life
- DTo mark a temporary shift toward abstract representation in response to a newly introduced monotheistic religion
Cevap
To ensure the statue's physical permanence and durability as an eternal home for the king's spirit (*ka*)
The correct answer is correct because the block-like, high-relief structure of Old Kingdom statues like *King Menkaura and Queen* was specifically engineered for durability. In ancient Egyptian funerary belief, the statue functioned as a backup vessel for the deceased's *ka* (spirit) if the mummified body decomposed. The rigid, frontal posture and lack of negative space between the arms and body minimized the risk of limbs breaking off, ensuring the statue's eternal permanence.
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Anahtar Kavram
The function of Old Kingdom funerary statues as eternal dwellings for the *ka* and the stylistic conventions of stability.