Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Sacred Lakes

The concept of the Sacred Lake (Ancient Egyptian: “She-netjer”) dates back to the earliest phases of Ancient Egyptian religious architecture, likely as far back as the Old Kingdom, c. 2686–2181 B.C., though surviving examples are predominantly from the Middle Kingdom onward. These man-made bodies of water were typically constructed within temple precincts, mirroring the primordial...

Limestone head-rest, with Isis & Nephthys

This painted limestone headrest features two standing female figures, their arms gracefully dangling at their sides, clad in elegant robes, and adorned with necklaces and bracelets. Each woman wears a Hathoric headdress, suggestive of the goddess Hathor’s attributes of femininity, protection, and fertility. While the precise identification of these figures remains debated, it is likely...

Double Signet Ring

This exquisite double signet ring, dating from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1069 B.C.), showcases the refined artistry and symbolic richness characteristic of the era. Crafted from gold, the ring features a pair of cartouches, but instead of a name within the “shen-ring” oval cartouche, are two figures. The first figure is that of a...

Pre-Dynastic Figures

These gold figurines discovered at Tell el-Farkha’s Eastern Kom, were unearthed by the Polish Archaeological Expedition to the Eastern Nile Delta, in 2006, during ongoing excavations that began in the late 1990s. Believed to date to the Naqada IIIB period (c. 3200–3000 B.C.), these figures are considered the oldest known depictions of Ancient Egyptian rulers...

Head of Khafre

The fragment of a head of king Khafre, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, once belonged to a statue that likely stood in one of the king’s grand temple complexes at Giza. Most probably, it was part of a seated or standing figure placed within the valley temple, mortuary temple, or possibly along the...

Doorkeeper of the House of Amun, Pakherenkhonsu

A stout man, bald and adorned in pleated linens, Pakherenkhonsu, is depicted striding forth with a broom in one hand, showcasing his temple duties as the “Doorkeeper of the House of Amun“. We can presume Pakherenkhonsu’s job consisted of securing the sanctuary, as well as maintaining the surroundings; keeping things tidy and righteous for the...

Copper Alloy Relief of a Nubian man

This intricately cut copper alloy relief, dated stylistically to the 25th–26th Dynasties (c. 760–526 B.C.), portrays a Nubian male in a loincloth, carrying a basket, with a monkey perched on his shoulder. Its flat back and low thickness (0.8 cm) suggest it was designed to be affixed to a flat surface, such as a wooden...

Woman offering Incense

The limestone ostracon (Musée du Louvre. E 14337) from Deir el-Medina, depicting a woman presenting a cup and vase before a figure holding a smoking bowl, likely represents a domestic or ritual offering scene. The woman’s pleated dress, perfume cone, and lotus flower suggest she is engaged in a ceremonial act, perhaps making an offering...

Sinai: Land of Turquoise

In the times of Ancient Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula was known by several evocative names, each reflecting its character and significance. The most enduring term was Mafkat, meaning “Land of Turquoise,” a nod to its famed turquoise mines in the southern regions near Serabit el-Khadim and Wadi Maghareh (Egyptian Arabic: “Valley of the Caves”). An...

Figure of a Woman & Child

This delicate Middle Kingdom limestone figurine (E 8000), dating from approximately 2035–1680 B.C., depicts a nude woman standing with truncated legs, wearing a tripartite wig, a cowrie shell belt, and a broad necklace, while tenderly carrying a small child. The figure’s soft curves, subtle modelling, and the inclusion of symbolic jewellery;particularly the cowrie shell belt,...