A fine example of the sculpture produced during the period of reunification at the end of the 2nd Intermediate Period, when the kings at Thebes succeeded in expelling the Hyksos, foreign kings ruling northern Egypt. The sculpting of the figure is confident, and the hieroglyphs are clearly formed and cleanly incised. The inscription on the sides identifies the man as Senemiah, a priest of the Theban moon-god Khons, with the unusual phrase 'he whose hands are pure when adorning his god', referring to the daily ritual in which the image of the god was given fresh food and clothing. This type of statue was placed in tombs, and this example is inscribed with the formula requesting a share in the offerings made by the king to the gods.
(1) An offering that the King gives (to) Horus of Edfu the great god (2) [...] and Osiris lord of Busiris, great god (3) lord of Abydos that he may give voice-offerings of bread and beer (4) cattle and fowl, all things good and pure on which a god lives.
(1) for the Ka of the pure-priest of Khons (2) Senemiah, pure (3) of hands in adorning (4) his god, the pure-priest Sen(em)iah.
)
