The so-called 'Avaris Statue' is a colossal ancient Egyptian sculpture believed to represent an Asiatic official or ruler of Avaris. Excavated between 1986 and 1988 by Austrian archaeologist Manfred Bietak at Tell el-Dab‘a, the statue’s remains suggest it was originally a seated figure, approximately 2 meters in height, featuring the distinctive mushroom-shaped hairstyle typical of Canaanite or Levantine elites. Fragments of the head and shoulders were recovered from a cemetery context, indicating its connection to elite burial practices. The statue reflects the Hyksos’ integration of foreign cultural elements into Egyptian society, blending their own artistic traditions with those of Egypt.

The Hyksos, a Semitic people from the Near East, established their capital at Avaris during their rule over northern Egypt (circa 1650–1550 BCE). Their reign is notable for introducing innovations such as the horse-drawn chariot and composite bow, which had a lasting influence on Egyptian military practices. The Avaris Statue thus stands as a testament to Hyksos authority and their efforts to legitimize their rule through monumental art.

circa 1700 BCE

The size of the seated figure is estimated to be 2 meters high and 1.5 meters in depth, about one and a half times life size. On the back – remarkably, you can still see evidence that this ruler was wearing a striped garment (inspect), made up of at least three colors: black, red and white. The skin was yellow, the traditional color of Asiatics in Egyptian art. It had a mushroom-shaped hairstyle, painted red, typical of that shown in Egyptian artwork for Asiatics. The statue had been intentionally smashed and defaced (Bietak 1996: 20–21).

It was a seated statue, nearly twice life-size, of excellent quality. The hair was painted red while the colour of the skin was yellow, the traditional colour of Asiatics in Egyptian art. This indicates that people of Asiatic origin enjoyed royal confidence during this period. As we also have evidence from not only Tell el-Dab'a but from other parts of the kingdom like Serabit el-Khadim, the presence of high Asiatic functionaries who were obviously in the service of the Egyptian crown is very evident.

circa 1700 BCE

According to Bietak's description, the statue was found in fragmentary form, within a robber's pit inside the funerary chapel preceeding the small pyramidal burial tomb. The statue was smashed intentionally, suggesting that there was political turmoil in the region. It is unclear whether this tomb belonged to the 'Mittelsaalhaus', which could be considered a predecessor of the palace of the early 13th Dynasty in the stratum above, or whether it belonged to this palace (inspect). From its position in relation to the 'Mittelsaalhaus' and to the other tombs, Eigner considers it probable that it belongs to late 12th Dynasty.

In a robbers' pit sunk in to the chapel of Tomb 1, excavators found fragments of this colossal statue depicting an Asiatic dignitary. The statue was found in a layer corresponding to the year circa 1700 BCE. Over the statue’s right shoulder you can still see his “throw stick” i.e., the symbol of his rule. Carved out of limestone the colossal statue depicts an asiatic dignitary with a mushroom-shaped coiffure holding a throw-stick at his right shoulder.

circa 1700 BCE

The Avaris Statue has occasionally been associated with the Biblical figure of Joseph, primarily due to its depiction of a high-ranking Asiatic official in Egypt, a detail that resonates with the narrative of Joseph’s rise to prominence in the Egyptian court. Some early scholars and popular commentators dubbed it the "Statue of Joseph", suggesting a visual link to the Biblical story. However, there is no direct archaeological or textual evidence connecting the statue to Joseph himself, and the identification remains speculative. The association largely stems from the statue’s Asiatic features, its location at Avaris—a major Hyksos administrative center—and the broader historical context of foreign officials attaining high office in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. Modern scholarship treats the identification as a cultural and interpretive hypothesis rather than a confirmed historical fact.

circa 1700 BCE

The form of this statue has no parallels in Egypt. A similar figure is known, however, from the palace of Ebla, dating approximately to the same period (eighteenth century BCE). It was made in a much cruder fashion, but once again it is a seated statue of a dignitary with a throwstick held against the shoulder. Finds like these suggest that in addition to such humble soldiers the high-ranking Egyptian functionaries who led such expeditions during the late 12th Dynasty were also of Asiatic descent.

Another comparable example is the statue of a Canaanite ruler found at the site of Byblos in present-day Lebanon. This statue, like the Avaris statue, features a ruler with a similar hairstyle and attire, reflecting the shared cultural elements among Semitic rulers in the ancient Near East. Such statues were not merely artistic expressions but also political statements, reinforcing the authority and legitimacy of their rulers.