Egyptian alabaster
Old Kingdom, Dynasty 6, reign of Pepy II, circa 2288 - 2224/2194 B.C.
Probably from Upper Egypt

Pepy II became king as a small child, so his mother acted as regent.
This statue symbolized her role evoking the typical Egyptian pose of
a mother nursing a child. Pepy is shown as a miniature king rather
than a child and, instead of nursing him , the queen holds him protectively
as he clasps her hand, Each figure looks straight ahead and has its own
inscription, as if it were a a separate statue.