50. Stela of Kariben

Kariben’s tomb was a sandstone mastaba with a stepped superstructure and an underground chamber. This stela was once set up in his tomb to receive offerings on behalf of the deceased and perpetuate his mortuary cult. The stela depicts Osiris holding the crook and flail. In front of him is a table with food and drink offerings made by a pious Kariben, who raises his hands in adoration. Behind Osiris stands his consort, Isis, while Ma’at (also identified as Isis in the inscription) stands behind Kariben. The text at the bottom identifies him as a ‘king’s brother’, and begins with the phrase ‘words spoken by’, indicating the script was meant to be spoken out loud. The theme, function and symbols of the stela are Egyptian. However, Kariben is depicted with a ‘Kushite cap’ and a Kushite fringed robe. While the tomb style and the iconography and hieroglyphics of the stela are a clear nod to Egyptian culture, the carving of the script, the identification of Ma’at as Isis, and the shape of the tomb’s underground chamber are unusual, linked to local preferences and a Kushite workshop. The stela demonstrates that Napatan culture incorporated many elements from ancient Egypt, while retaining its distinctly Nubian flavor.