Artifacts

Statuette of a woman carrying an offering. Musée du Louvre. E 10781

Statuette of a woman carrying an offering basket upon head

A painted wooden statuette of a woman carrying offerings. Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c. 1963-1862 B.C. The Ancient Egyptians believed in physical offerings for spiritual sustenance. Therefore, in funerary scenes depicted upon tomb walls, you will see numerous men and women carrying objects to be buried alongside the deceased. Not only were these items of...

Statue of God Nefertem

Statue of God Nefertem

This may have been a statue from a temple of Nefertem. Large silver statues are very rare in ancient Egypt. The god of perfume, Nefertem, was also a god of healing who was said to have eased the suffering of the aging sun god Re with a bouquet of sacred lotus. Nefertem therefore not only...

Mummy board painting of two brothers from Faiyum. Egyptian, Roman Period c. 30 B.C. - 2nd Century A.D.

Mummy board painting of two brothers from Faiyum, c. 30 B.C. – 2nd Century A.D.

These mummy board painting of two brothers, commonly known as ‘Faiyum Portraits’ due to being found in the town of Faiyum, were realistic portraits placed over the mummified dead. It is thought that perhaps they show the deceased at their best, possibly even portraits hung in houses previously to death. However, that is not certified,...

Seated limestone statue of Senwosret I, from el-Lisht. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. CG417

Senwosret I, c. 1961-1917 B.C.

Kheperkare Senwosret I was the son of Amenemhat I, who became Co-Regent alongside his father, sometime after his father’s 20th Regnal Year.Senwosret, following in the footsteps of his father, led brutal campaigns south into Nubia, dominating the region all the way down to the Second Cataract of the Nile, documented on the Buhen Stela. With...

Statue of Viceroy of Kush, Paser, son of Minmose

Statue of Viceroy of Kush, Paser, son of Minmose

Sandstone statue of the Viceroy of Kush, Paser, son of Minmose, holding a ram-headed altar, with an invocation inscribed to Amun-Ra, and prayers to Min & Isis on the back. Also, additional prayers to “Horus, lord of Nubia, and Amun-Ra on behalf of the Viceroy of Kush, Paser” feature. A Viceroy is “the governor of...

Is this the head of Meryrahashetef?

Statue of Meryrahashetef, c. 2345-2181 B.C.

In the late 19th century, Sir Flinders Petrie uncovered a remarkable assemblage within the tomb of Meryrahashetef at Sidmant el-Gebel, Faiyum. Among the finds was the mummified head of a man, resting upon a calcite headrest. Though much of the flesh and linen wrappings had perished, leaving only the skeletal skull, Petrie identified the remains...

Forensic reconstruction of Nebiri

Forensic reconstruction of the head of the dignitary Nebiri, by forensic artist Philippe Froesch. Nebiri was an Official who worked under King Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty. Despite his body being pretty much destroyed, most likely due to tomb robberies in antiquity, the immaculate way in which he was mummified, showcases his status in society,...

Princess Nefertiabet, as depicted on her stela, where she is seen receiving food offerings, titled as; "[the products of the] field".

Princess Nefertiabet; “King’s Daughter; 𓇓𓅭𓏏”

Princess Nefertiabet is most likely the daughter of king Khufu, and she is seen here depicted in a leopard or panther skin dress and choker style collar. Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c. 2600 B.C. Mastaba G 1225, Giza Plateau Musée du Louvre. E 15591 Nefertiabet is shown seated facing right. She is depicted with a...

Ushabti of King Ramesses IV

Ushabti of King Ramesses IV New Kingdom, 20th Dynasty, c. 1153-1147 B.C. Found within the tomb of Ramesses IV, Tomb KV2, Valley of the Kings Musée du Louvre. N 438 Despite the Harem Conspiracy (Judicial Papyrus of Turin) organised in hopes to place Prince Pentawer (a son of Ramesses III & his wife Tiye) on...

Prince Montuherkhepeshef ("Montu is above his powerful arm")

Prince Montuherkhepeshef (“Montu is above his powerful arm”)

Prince Montuherkhepeshef, also sometimes known as Ramesses-Montuherkhepeshef, was the firstborn son of Ramesses IX, who died before he could become king. The prince held titles such as; “First King’s Son of his Body”; “Eldest King’s Son of his Body”; “Generalissimo; and Executive at the Head of the Two Lands”. During the reign of Ramesses IX,...