Raherka and Mersankh Writing was among the defining features of civilizations almost everywhere. In ancient Egyptian civilization, the scribes who possessed this skill enjoyed both social prestige and political influence. This famous statue shows Raherka, an “inspector of the scribes” during Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty (ca. 2350 B.C.E.), in an affectionate pose with his wife, Mersankh. Musée du Louvre, Paris, France/© RMN–