One of the popular features in Nile Magazine is "On This Day": a look back at important moments in Egyptology during the two months covered by that issue.
One of the famous moments in the current issue is the discovery of The Seated Scribe, on 19th November 1850. Auguste Mariette was looking for the famed Serapeum at Saqqara when his workers uncovered a ruined mastaba near the rows of sphinxes leading to the catacombs.
Sadly, the name of the Seated Scribe is lost, as is the precise location of the scribe's tomb; it has disappeared once again beneath the Saqqara sands.
While much about the Seated Scribe remains a mystery, one thing we do know is that the Scribe isn’t a pharaoh; contrary to popular belief, no king was ever portrayed in such a scribal position. The amazing craftsmanship and the style of the work tell us that the scribe was probably a royal son or grandson from the time of the great pyramids.
Naturally, we feature a magnificent photo of the front of the Seated Scribe, but I particularly like this one, where our anonymous scribe “gazes” into the Louvre’s Cour Carrée. Photo: (c) Karen F. Rose.
Enjoy the full article on "The Seated Scribe" in the current issue of Nile Magazine.
In fact, now is the perfect time to subscribe. With the next issue due in December, you'll receive the current issue, followed by another one in a couple of weeks; that's a lot of great Nile time in December!