The King’s Acquaintances: Memi and Sabu

This statue captures the intimate relationship between Memi and his companion Sabu, though Sabu is slightly set apart with an oblique gaze  .

Previously, nonroyal statues were thought to flourish only during the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, but recent research shows that many—including Memi and Sabu—actually date to the Fourth Dynasty, contemporary with major royal statuary programs  . The early dating is supported by Sabu’s coiffure and the reciprocated embrace  .

Period: Old Kingdom
Dynasty: 4th Dynasty
Date: ca. 2575–2465 B.C.