Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history
This painted limestone statue of an Ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom family, dates from the 5th Dynasty, c. 2420-2389 B.C.The statue depicts Nikare, the Official of the Granary, with his wife Khuennub knelt by his side, and their daughter Khuennebti standing beside her father. Found in Saqqara, likely the Memphite region, the limestone statue still has...
This mummy mask of an Ancient Egyptian High Official dates from the late 18th Dynasty. We can be assured of this man’s status by the double collared necklace adorning the top of his broad usekh collar. These pieces were handed out by the king himself in a grand ceremony, often depicted with pride within the...
This ostracon depicting a lively scene of a Ramesside pharaoh hunting wild animals with a spear, was given to the Earl of Carnarvon during a division of finds, after excavations conducted by Howard Carter in 1920. It was discovered within the Valley of the Kings, among debris near the entrance of what would be the...
This painted limestone head of a woman was found in the mud brick mastaba Tomb of Nikhasutnisut (G 7911), Giza. Found among the debris of a pit, during the Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts Expedition of 1930/31, the head of the woman measures at 9.2 cm high and 6.8cm wide. She is broken at the...
This beautifully rounded alabaster ointment jar is adorned with an inscription dedicated to the female king Hatshepsut. “King’s Daughter, King’s Sister, God’s Wife, King’s Great Wife (principal queen), Hatshepsut, may she live and endure like Re forever.” The latter part of the dedication was usually reserved for king’s alone, thus it is safe to presume...
This string of glazed composition beads; with various colours and forms, including grapes and daisies, dates from the 18th Dynasty of Pharaonic Egypt. It is 32.5cm in length and was purchased from Hon Richard Bethell and acquired by the British Museum (EA57886) in 1925. The striking colours of both the amulets and the beadwork of...
These group of heads, all made from Aswan “rose” Granite range in slightly smaller than life-size, and over life-size scale, and they all depict the same king, who is almost certainly king Amenhotep III of Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. These heads were discovered in Thebes but are currently spread around various museums across the world,...
This doubled seated painted limestone statue depicts the overseer Mahu, who is titled with “Overseer of the work of Amun at Karnak” and his wife Duat, who was a priestess with the title “Priestess of Amun-Ra and Hathor“. Due to their titles it is to be believed the pair were from Thebes, and thus, it...
This seated double statuette, made from painted limestone, is 28cm tall and depicts an Ancient Egyptian couple dating from the middle of the 18th Dynasty. Unfortunately, the piece is uninscribed, despite the sides having “scalloped motifs, edged on two sides with a decorative border of rectangles.” The piece is in typical Ancient Egyptian fashion, showcasing...
This head of the 18th Dynasty king Amenhotep I was discovered within the remnants of the Temple of Mentuhotep II at Deir el-Bahari (Forecourt, MMA excavations, 1921–22). Amenhotep I contributed multiple restorative building works to the Temple of Mentuhotep, which was originally developed by king Mentuhotep II in the early Middle Kingdom period. Amenhotep I...