The coffin of Tamutmutef, “Chantress of Amun”, is an exquisite example of funerary craftsmanship from the Third Intermediate Period, dating approximately between 1076 and 746 B.C. This period, following the decline of the New Kingdom, was marked by political fragmentation and a shift in religious power, particularly toward the priesthood of Amun at Thebes. Within...
This rectangular slab of black siltstone, dating to the reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.), once formed part of a temple’s architectural adornment. It is sculpted in sunk relief on both faces, though one side survives in better condition. The decoration consists of offering scenes surmounted by a dado of niche patterns and crowned...
This finely carved sandstone group statue, dating from the 12th Dynasty of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (c. 1981–1802 B.C.), portrays Senbebu, an Overseer of Stonemasons, seated prominently between two women. The figure to his left is likely his wife, Abetib, while the woman to his right is named Peryt. Senbebu held a distinguished title that indicates...
A model domestic figure is a small, carved representation of a person (often crafted from wood and painted) that was placed in Ancient Egyptian tombs to symbolise aspects of daily life. These figures typically depict servants, labourers, or household workers engaged in domestic or agricultural tasks such as grinding grain, baking bread, brewing beer, carrying...
The Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh is a notable example of Middle Kingdom Egyptian sculpture, dating to approximately 1919–1885 B.C. during the reign of Amenemhat II. This limestone statue was excavated in 1923–24 from Pit 6L.P19 in the tomb of Sehetepibreankh at Lisht South, located in the Memphite region of Egypt. The statue exemplifies...
The game of Senet (Ancient Egyptian: “znt”, meaning ‘passing’ and in Coptic: ⲥⲓⲛⲉ/sinə, meaning “passing, afternoon”), is a board game consisting of 10 or more pawns on a 30 square playing board.whose origins stretch back to the earliest dynasties of Ancient Egypt, was more than a pastime of the living; it was a symbolic rite...
Khaemhat, also known as Mahu, was a high-ranking official who flourished during the reign of Amenhotep III in the 14th century B.C., a period often celebrated as the apogee of Ancient Egypt’s imperial splendour and artistic refinement. Holding the esteemed title of “Overseer of the Granaries of Upper and Lower Egypt“, Khaemhat occupied a position...
In the annals of ancient diplomacy and warfare, few events stand as prominently as the Battle of Kadesh and the treaty that followed it. Fought circa 1274 B.C., this monumental confrontation between two great Bronze Age powers, Egypt under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II, is widely regarded not only for its...
This piece, fashioned from Egyptian Blue and gold, presents a striking image of the head of a Nubian man engulfed by the jaws of a lion. Though compact in scale, the piece is monumental in its ideological intent. Most likely the terminal of a ceremonial fly whisk or whip, the handle is more than decorative;...
Amidst the sprawling grandeur of Karnak Temple in Luxor, once the spiritual heart of ancient Thebes, stands a most curious and venerable monument: a colossal stone scarab carved from rose-hued granite. It is thought to date from the reign of Amenhotep III (r. 1391-1351 B.C.), during Egypt’s glittering 18th Dynasty, a period marked by architectural...
The Lake of Fire in Ancient Egyptian belief is a compelling and multifaceted concept, primarily depicted in funerary texts such as the Book of the Dead. This lake, known in Egyptian as the “Lake of Flames,” served as both a perilous obstacle and a source of purification for the deceased navigating the Duat, the Egyptian...
In Ancient Egyptian belief, Ammit (also spelled Ammut or Amamet) was the personification of punishment, a final threat to those who fail to live a just life. With a body part lion, part hippopotamus, and part crocodile; the three largest and most dangerous animals known to the Egyptians, her name translates to “Devourer“, she is...
Nestled within the arid cliffs of Deir el-Medina, on the west bank of the Nile opposite modern-day Luxor, lies Theban Tomb 8 (TT8), the final resting place of Kha, a distinguished overseer of royal tomb construction, and his wife, Merit. This tomb, remarkably preserved and untouched by ancient looters, offers an unparalleled glimpse into the...
