This statue shows Khaemwase, one of the sons of King Ramesses II. In the role of High-Priest in Memphis, he holds staffs topped with sacred emblems. Khaemwase was interested in Egyptian history and spent time restoring monuments of the Old Kingdom, including some of the pyramids at Saqqara. This statue was originally set up in a temple, perhaps at Abydos in southern Egypt.

Sculptures of kings in Egyptian temples emphasised both their royal authority and devotion to the gods. Many of the statues were large enough to act as architectural features, complementing the colonnades and gateways of temples. They were often set up in pairs or larger groups, distributed around the axis of the building. Most sculptures were originally painted in lifelike colours, even over hard stone.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.