<em>The Cheops Ring</em>, ca. 664-404 B.C.E. Gold, Height 13/16 in., 0.5 lb. (2.1 cm, 0.2kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.734E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.734E_PS6.jpg)

The Cheops Ring, ca. 664-404 B.C.E. Gold, Height 13/16 in., 0.5 lb. (2.1 cm, 0.2kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.734E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.734E_PS6.jpg)

The Cheops Ring, ca. 664-404 B.C.E. Gold, Height 13/16 in., 0.5 lb. (2.1 cm, 0.2kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.734E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.720E_37.725E_37.728E_37.729E_37.731E_37.733E_37.734E_GrpB_SL4.jpg)

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The Cheops Ring

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Because this ring bears a cartouche of King Khufu of Dynasty IV, known later to the Greeks as Cheops, it was once world famous as the actual signet ring of the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The inscription, however, shows that it really belonged to a man named Neferibre who was a priest in the cults of Isis and the deified Cheops at Giza two thousand years after Cheops died. The ring is unusually heavy and is made of gold more than twenty-one karats pure.

MEDIUM Gold

Reportedly From: Giza, Egypt

DATES ca. 664-404 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 26 to Dynasty 27

PERIOD Late Period

DIMENSIONS Height 13/16 in., 0.5 lb. (2.1 cm, 0.2kg) Bezel: Width 11/16 x Length 15/16 in. (1.8 x 2.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view on the 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

EXHIBITIONS

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.734E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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CAPTION The Cheops Ring, ca. 664-404 B.C.E. Gold, Height 13/16 in., 0.5 lb. (2.1 cm, 0.2kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.734E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.734E_PS6.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 37.734E_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Gold signet ring of a "Priest of Isis of Cheops" i.e. a priest of the temple of Isis at Giza. The bezel is oval shaped with the inscribed area being slightly raised leaving an oval border. The priest's name is Neferbire.

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