The artwork, titled “Stele of the Serpent King” or “Stela of Djet,” was crafted by Ancient Egyptian artists around c. 3000 BC. It is associated with the Middle Kingdom period and falls within the genres of mythological and animal paintings. This significant piece is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
The artwork is a standing stone slab, or stele, featuring intricately carved reliefs. At the top of the stele, a falcon, representing the god Horus, is perched, symbolizing royal authority and divine protection. Below the falcon, hieroglyphs and additional carvings depict various elements of ancient Egyptian symbolic language, including a possible reference to the cobra or serpent associated with royalty and protection. The stele is composed of a high-grade stone and exhibits typical Middle Kingdom artistic conventions through its use of symbolism and detailed workmanship.
