09 · OBJECT · 25TH DYNASTY
Kushite king A Kushite king kneels before the divine
A small bronze figure reminds us that Nubia ruled Egypt, it was not merely ruled by it.
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History and context Evidence and facts Objects connected through time Further reading Location and territory Where it is held Sources and references Comments Museum documentation · free public access, no account required.
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DECLARED VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION · EXISTING EDITORIAL RESOURCE · TRACEKEEPERS Generated reconstruction · Declared visual hypothesis
Declared visual reconstruction for museographic context; it is not a photograph of the original nor documentary evidence.
View full image: DECLARED VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION · EXISTING EDITORIAL RESOURCE · TRACEKEEPERS DECLARED VISUAL RECONSTRUCTION · EXISTING EDITORIAL RESOURCE · TRACEKEEPERS Generated reconstruction · Declared visual hypothesis
Declared visual reconstruction for museographic context; it is not a photograph of the original nor documentary evidence.
View full image: Original documentary · Photograph of the original Original documentary · Photograph of the original Documentary original · Exact correspondence
Documentary photograph of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Web adaptation: size and format adjustment, without reconstructing parts or altering the photograph’s content.
The Met inventory 2002.8 and fact sheet 545027 identify the specimen described; this photograph shows its conserved state, not an AI restoration.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York · Inventory: 2002.8 · CC0 1.0 · Open Access
View full image: Documentary original · Another view of the original Documentary original · Another view of the original Documentary original · Exact correspondence
Documentary photograph of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Web adaptation: size and format adjustment, without reconstructing parts or altering the photograph’s content.
The Met inventory 2002.8 and fact sheet 545027 identify the specimen described; this photograph shows its conserved state, not an AI restoration.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York · Inventory: 2002.8 · CC0 1.0 · Open Access
History and context The figure represents a Kushite king of the 25th Dynasty kneeling in ritual attitude. He wore two uraei and ram’s-head amulets, but a later Saite king removed one of the uraei, the amulets and the belt name.
The image is not an intimate portrait nor does it allow recognition of a specific monarch. It is the language of legitimacy and, by its ancient alterations, also evidence of a disputed political memory.
The kneeling figure represents an unidentified Kushite king. The royal headdress, the uraei and the ram’s-head amulets inscribe Kush within a reformulated pharaonic tradition.
A later Saite king altered the double uraeus, the amulets and the belt name. That political erasure prevents identifying the figure and turns the mutilation itself into part of the object’s history.
Evidence and interpretation Documented fact: The Met catalogues the piece as statue of an unidentified Kushite king, dated c. 721–664 BCE; it measures 7.3 cm and retains bronze and gold leaf. Interpretation and caution: Identifying it with Taharqa would be unjustified because the name was removed and the museum does not assign the figure to a specific king.
Documented expansion: The Met catalogues the piece as statue of an unidentified Kushite king, c. 721–664 BCE, of bronze with gold leaf and 7.3 cm in height.
Expanded interpretation and caution: It should not be identified with Taharqa: the name was erased and the museum’s fact sheet does not attribute it to a specific king; the features also do not support modern racial typologies.
Catalogue facts
Narrative date c. 721–664 BCE
Location Nubia or Egypt; exact provenance not recorded
Material Bronze with gold leaf
Context Kushite kingship and ritual
Curatorial reading The documented fact and its interpretation appear separately in the evidence block.
Chronology c. 721–664 BCE
Material and scale Bronze with gold leaf; 7.3 cm height
Ancient alteration Name, amulets and one of the two uraei were removed
Documentary coverage 2 museum, heritage, primary corpus or research sources for this stop. Bronze29 Gold32 Figurines20 Human imagery73 Kingship and power33
The order uses the midpoint of each approximate date range; ranges can overlap. Spacing does not represent elapsed time. Swipe, scroll or use the arrows. With the sequence focused, use ← / →, Home or End.
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9 / 23 In the centre: Kushite king
Also connected, without a comparable date (6) These objects are not placed after the others: an unknown date does not mean a more recent object.
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Gold The Gold of Varna · Towards 4600–4200 BCE · ThraciansPuabi headdress · ca. 2600–2450 BCE · SumerThe goat from PG 1237 · ca. 2600–2400 BCE · SumerBefore Phoenicia · 20th–18th centuries BCE · PhoeniciansTutankhamun's grave goods · death towards 1323 BCE · Ancient EgyptStag Vessel · 14th–13th centuries BCE · HittitesValchitran · second half of the 14th century–beginning of the 13th century BCE, according to NAIM; other publications use wider intervals from the Late Bronze. · ThraciansBefore the Iberias · Final Bronze, c. 1000 BCE · IberiansTomb 1 at Kuntur Wasi · c. 800 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesKushite king · c. 721–664 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush — You are viewingGold at Kuntur Wasi · c. 800–550 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesRegolini-Galassi tomb · ca. 675–650 BCE · Etruscans and RomeCondomina Earring · 6th century BCE · IberiansUni was also Astarte · Towards 510 BCE · Etruscans and RomeEzerovo Ring · 5th century BCE · chronology discussed in the bibliography · ThraciansCoțofenești helmet · Second half of the 5th century – beginning of the 4th century BCE · ThraciansA battle on a comb · Early 4th century BCE · Scythians and SakaThe Kul-Oba vase · 4th century BCE · Greek worldsThe Solokha gold comb · 4th century BCE · Greek worldsThe archer in gold · Type introduced from the late 6th century; specimen from the 4th century BCE. · Achaemenid PersiaTreasure of Jávea · 4th century BCE · IberiansSusa grave goods · c. 350 BCE · Achaemenid PersiaThoth in the form of a baboon · 664–30 BCE · Ancient EgyptFaces of the Steppe · Second half of the 4th century BCE · Scythians and SakaPoroina Mare Rhyton · Second half of the 4th century BCE · ThraciansTreasure of Cheste · Jewellery from the 4th–3rd centuries BCE; concealment at the end of the 3rd century BCE. · IberiansMarina Alta Hoard · Jewellery: 5th–2nd centuries BCE; concealment probably around 80–73 BCE. · IberiansPanagyurishte · late 4th century – early 3rd century BCE, towards 300 BCE · ThraciansMairena Hoard · 3rd century BCE · IberiansPatera from Perotito · Second half of the 2nd–beginnings of the 1st century BCE · IberiansMoulds for gold · 9th–11th centuries CE · Mande WorldsGold rhinoceros · ca. 1220–1290; found in 1933 · Bantu-speaking worldsFigurines Hohle Fels · ≈40,000 years · Aurignacian · PrehistoryWillendorf · ≈29,500 years · PrehistoryBrno II Articulated Figure · ≈28,000 years cal BP · by funerary association · PrehistoryDolní Věstonice I · ≈29,000–27,000 years · PrehistoryLespugue · ≈28,000 years · PrehistoryKostenki I · ≈23,000–21,000 years · PrehistoryZaraysk Bison · ≈23,000–21,000 years · PrehistoryWorshiper of Tell Asmar · Towards 2900–2600 BCE · SumerOffering 4 · c. 800–600 BCE · Maya worldsKushite king · c. 721–664 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush — You are viewingThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · IberiansShabti of Psamtek · 570–526 BCE · Ancient EgyptLa Venta grave goods · ca. 600–400 BCE · Maya worldsLady of Ibiza · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · PhoeniciansLady of Ibiza · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · IberiansThracian Gladiator from Cádiz · 67–100 CE · Etruscans and RomeWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
Human imagery Lion-man · ≈40,000 years · Aurignacian · PrehistoryHohle Fels · ≈40,000 years · Aurignacian · PrehistoryWillendorf · ≈29,500 years · PrehistoryBrno II Articulated Figure · ≈28,000 years cal BP · by funerary association · PrehistoryDolní Věstonice I · ≈29,000–27,000 years · PrehistoryLespugue · ≈28,000 years · PrehistoryKostenki I · ≈23,000–21,000 years · PrehistoryShigir Idol · C. 10,000 BCE · approximation; debated dating · PrehistoryNahal Hemar mask · Eighth millennium BCE · context dating, not direct dating of the stone · PrehistoryEl Miradero spatula-idols · ≈4000–3800 cal BCE · PrehistoryWarka Mask · End of the 4th millennium BCE · SumerCueva de las Manos · Sequence ≈9300–1300 BP · PrehistoryUruk Vase · ca. 3300–3000 BCE · SumerWorshiper of Tell Asmar · Towards 2900–2600 BCE · SumerStandard of Ur · ca. 2600–2400 BCE · SumerStatue of Ebih-Il · Towards 2400 BCE · SumerAkkadian sovereign head · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerBassetki Statue · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerBefore Pre-Inca Cultures · Kotosh-Mito Tradition, c. 2200–1500 BCE; the enclosure is usually situated around 1800 BCE. · Pre-Inca culturesQueen of the Night · 19th–18th centuries BCE · SumerBull-leaping · c. 1600–1450 BCE · Greek worldsWooden faces · c. 1600–1000 BCE, in several phases · Maya worldsHead 2 · c. 1200–900 BCE · Maya worldsIvory in Nimrud · 9th–8th centuries BCE · PhoeniciansLas Limas · c. 1000–600 BCE · Maya worldsAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · PhoeniciansAstarte from El Carambolo · 8th century BCE · IberiansLamassu of Khorsabad · Reign of Sargon II · 721–705 BCE · SumerThe Lanzón · c. 900–500 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesOffering 4 · c. 800–600 BCE · Maya worldsKushite king · c. 721–664 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush — You are viewingThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe so-called ‘Priest of Cádiz’ · 7th century BCE · IberiansHeads on the wall · c. 800–300 BCE · Pre-Inca culturesShabti of Psamtek · 570–526 BCE · Ancient EgyptTwo voices in an urn · 530–520 BCE · Etruscans and RomeThe god on the roof · Towards 510–500 BCE · Etruscans and RomeGlazed brick guards · 522–486 BCE · Achaemenid PersiaTwenty-three delegations · 6th–5th centuries BCE, mainly under Darius and Xerxes · Achaemenid PersiaBanquet under leopards · Around 480–470 BCE · Etruscans and RomeThe statue was the urn · First half of the 4th century BCE · IberiansA battle on a comb · Early 4th century BCE · Scythians and SakaThe Kul-Oba vase · 4th century BCE · Greek worldsThe Solokha gold comb · 4th century BCE · Greek worldsFaces of the Steppe · Second half of the 4th century BCE · Scythians and SakaLady of Ibiza · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · PhoeniciansPunic head pendant · Mid 4th–3rd centuries BCE · PhoeniciansLady of Ibiza · 4th–3rd centuries BCE · IberiansThe Raimondi Stele · c. 400–200 BCE according to MNAAHP · Pre-Inca culturesChão de Lamas pectoral · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · concealed in the early 1st century BCE · IberiansVas dels Guerrers · 3rd–early 2nd century BCE · IberiansWarriors' Vase · 3rd–2nd centuries BCE · IberiansThe dismantled cauldron · 2nd–1st centuries BCE · Celtic worldsThe walls of San Bartolo · c. 100 BCE · Maya worldsGladiators Cup of Chavagnes · 25–75 CE · Etruscans and RomeThracian Gladiator from Cádiz · 67–100 CE · Etruscans and RomeTorreáguila fountain spout · 101–125 CE · Etruscans and RomeArticulated doll from Tarragona · Late 3rd–4th century CE · Etruscans and RomeSeven heads · c. 500–700 CE · Bantu-speaking worldsSeated figure · 13th century, date attributed by the museum · Mande WorldsKongo crucifix · 16th–17th centuries · Bantu-speaking worldsKuba ndop · ca. 1760 · Bantu-speaking worldsWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
Before Persia · Central core c. seventeenth century BCE; Neo-Elamite additions between the ninth and sixth centuries BCE · Achaemenid PersiaBhimbetka · Mesolithic–historical and medieval period · PrehistoryEland Cave · Regional tradition of ≈4,000 years · up to historical period · PrehistoryFour offerers · Iberian period · individual dating according to catalogue · IberiansGame Pass Shelter · Regional rock art chronology · panel not dated in isolation · San historiesLararium of Vilauba · Roman period · Etruscans and RomeLeang Karampuang · Minimum 51,200 years · dating published in 2024 · PrehistoryQuinkan Country · Regional art up to ≈27,000 BP · modern continuity · PrehistorySierra de San Francisco · Broad tradition with direct dates ≈5290–295 BP · PrehistoryTassili n’Ajjer · Corpus ≈6000 BCE–first centuries CE · PrehistoryThe Thracian Horseman · Roman era · diffusion especially in the 2nd–3rd centuries CE · ThraciansKingship and power Narmer Palette · ca. 3100 BCE · Ancient EgyptPuabi headdress · ca. 2600–2450 BCE · SumerUr-Nanshe relief · Mid-3rd millennium BCE · reign of Ur-Nanshe · SumerStele of the Vultures · Towards 2450–2425 BCE · SumerAkkadian sovereign head · Akkadian period · 23rd century BCE · SumerNaram-Sin Stele · Reign of Naram-Sin, 2254–2218 BCE · SumerSumerian King List · Towards 1800 BCE · SumerStele of Hammurabi · Towards 1750 BCE · SumerGrave Circle A and Chrysolakkos · 18th–16th centuries BCE · Greek worldsBurial at K IV · circa 1750–1550 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and KushTutankhamun's grave goods · death towards 1323 BCE · Ancient EgyptFu Hao’s burial goods · ca. 1200 BCE · Ancient ChinaTribute to Assyria · c. 848 BCE · PhoeniciansBlack Obelisk · 825 BCE · SumerLamassu of Khorsabad · Reign of Sargon II · 721–705 BCE · SumerKushite king · c. 721–664 BCE · Nubia, Kerma and Kush — You are viewingStele of Esarhaddon · 7th century BC C. · 671 campaign BCE · SumerAshurbanipal Hunt · 645–635 BCE · SumerIshtar Gate · 7th–6th centuries BCE · work of Nebuchadnezzar II · SumerTwenty-three delegations · 6th–5th centuries BCE, mainly under Darius and Xerxes · Achaemenid PersiaSarcophagus of Eshmunazar · first quarter of the 5th century BCE · PhoeniciansThe archer in gold · Type introduced from the late 6th century; specimen from the 4th century BCE. · Achaemenid PersiaSusa grave goods · c. 350 BCE · Achaemenid PersiaGolyamata Kosmatka · End of the 4th century – beginning of the 3rd century BCE; ritual burial at the beginning of the III according to Iskra. · ThraciansDenarius of Carisius · ≈25–23 BCE · IberiansThe date of 292 · 292 CE · Maya worldsPakal’s grave goods · sealed on 28 August 683 CE · Maya worldsCatalan Atlas · after 1375 and before November 1380 · Mande WorldsKuba ndop · ca. 1760 · Bantu-speaking worldsWithout a comparable date (not part of the chronological order):
A closer look About 1 min to read · 1 section. Further reading and sources · free access. Editorial review recorded: September 5, 2026 .
A new body looking towards an ancient past The Met interprets the broad shoulders and narrow waist of this figure as an archaising choice linked to Old Kingdom models. The small statue did not merely seek to reproduce an individual’s body: it elaborated an image of pious kingship through historically recognisable forms. Also intact are details of the headdress, such as the falcon engraved behind and the diadem of small cobras. Comparing them with the altered areas allows recognition of a selective modification, not the indiscriminate destruction of the whole image.
Location and territory Physical world map with routes of human evolution Present-day world coastline from Natural Earth in an equirectangular projection. The overlaid markers let you explore each milestone. Map base: Natural Earth 1:110m · public domain · present-day reference coastline REGIONAL AREA
Nubia or Egypt; exact provenance not recorded Upper Nile Corridor; Kerma, Napata and Meroe were not a single State. The footprint marks the indicative center of the area, not a border or an exact point. Where it is held Item or group in the record · On display
Statue of Taharqa kneeling; the Met fact sheet documents its current gallery.
The holding institution is documented; public display may change. Check its official record before visiting.
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