Head of Userkaf

3D Model

Head of King Userkaf, about 2452-2447

painted limestone

Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, reign of Userkaf

Despite the monumental achivements of the Old Kingdom’s Pyramid Age, few images of its rulers survive. This head has been identified as King Userkaf, the first King of Dynasty 5. Userkaf built a modest pyramid at Saqqara and a temple to the sun god Ra at Abusir. According to later tradition, the first three kings of Dynasty 5 were the children of Ra himself and a mortal woman. From Userkaf’s reign on, the kings of Egypt were called “Sons of Ra”. Here, Userkaf wears the two basic items that identify him as King: the tall, conical White Crown of Upper (sourthern) Egypt, and the royal false beard”.

Scanned at Cleveland Museum of Art.