The Sartorial Choices of Sobekneferu: Louvre Statue E 27135. Issue 1 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diamond, Kelly Anne
• Is Part Of: Journal of Egyptian archaeology. Volume 108:Issue 1/2(2022)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Sobekneferu -- female masculinity -- dress theory -- Middle Kingdom statuary -- gender; Egypt -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Antiquities; Egypt; Archäologie; Ägypten; Égypte -- Antiquités -- Périodiques; 6.140; Periodicals; Zeitschrift; Online-Publikation; Electronic journals; 932.005
• DOI: 10.1177/03075133221138861
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-5133

Abstract

This paper explores the items of dress worn by King Sobekneferu on statue E 27135 in the Musée du Louvre. This statue is unique in comparison to her other known statues because it is the only one where she wears both feminine and masculine dress items. Sobekneferu's combination of dress items coalesces in an ensemble that shapes, performs and displays her gender, divinity, communality, profession and class simultaneously. Through an analysis of her sartorial choices, we can better understand how Sobekneferu satisfied both her individual identity and her group identity in interacting with her subjects. This paper demonstrates how her dress had the power to communicate and inform the public through its materiality. Sobekneferu's sartorial choices enabled her to craft visibly an authoritative image of herself as king. This image responded to the gendered expectation of kingship which was invoked through the masculinity her statue produced.