This commanding sculptural fragment represents the head of Amenhotep III, one of the most powerful and influential rulers of Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. Now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, this piece is a testament to the refined craftsmanship and royal iconography of the New Kingdom period. The pharaoh is shown wearing...
Donated to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts by Evelyn M. Pope in memory of her husband, Edward J. Pope, this bronze statue of a fish, adorned with the horned sun-disc crown typically associated with Isis or Hathor, features glass-inlaid eyes and represents the sacred fish linked to the myth of Osiris. The piece is...
Discovered in 1936 by British archaeologist Walter Bryan Emery within the tomb of Prince Sabu at the Saqqara necropolis, the so-called “Sabu Disk” is a unique object which stands as a testament to the advanced craftsmanship of early Egyptian artisans. Believed to date from the First Dynasty, c. 3000–2800 B.C., the disk measures approximately 61...
Butehamun was a distinguished scribe who was born and raised in the Deir el-Medina region, and resided in Medinet Habu, living during the reign of Ramesses XI, he died in Third Intermediate Period. Born into a lineage of scribes, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Thutmose, embracing a life devoted to the written...
Ipuy was a sculptor and artist who worked during the reign of Ramesses II. His tomb (TT217) is located on the upper terrace of the western cemetery at Deir el-Medina, which was the burial site for the workers, craftsmen, and officials who lived in the Worker’s Village of Deir el-Medina. The Egyptian artistic profession, particularly...
King Menkaure, the illustrious pharaoh of Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty, reigned during the mid-26th century B.C., leaving an enduring legacy of majesty and refinement. Best known for his resplendent pyramid at Giza—smaller yet more exquisitely crafted than those of his predecessors—Menkaure was a sovereign of both might and measured grace. His reign is immortalised through sublime...
This ostracon is a remarkable piece of ancient Egyptian art, and it is often recognized for its portrayal of a young king, which provides a rare and valuable glimpse into royal iconography during the 20th Dynasty (around 1150 BC). Like many ostraca, this one is made of limestone, which was a common material used by...
The sarcophagus of Harkhebit exhibits typical Memphite craftsmanship, characterized by a plump, squarish face, a smooth, unarticulated body, and slightly protruding feet. The body is inscribed with sunk-relief hieroglyphs, including passages from the Book of the Dead. The interior carvings were left rough, possibly intended for painting, perhaps in green. Harkhebit held several esteemed titles,...
Painted relief depicts goddess Hathor offers Menat necklace to Seti I, from a pillar in the Tomb of Seti I (KV17) in the Valley of the Kings, West Thebes. Seti I’s tomb is known for its rich decoration, which included elaborate depictions of gods and pharaohs in various religious contexts. It’s also famous for the...
This statue, a life-sized representation, presents Hatshepsut wearing the nemes headdress—an insignia typically reserved for the reigning king. While she is draped in female attire, the inscriptions beside her legs already bear her throne name, Ma’at-Ka-Re, yet interestingly her titles remain feminine, calling her the “Lady of the Two Lands” and the “Bodily Daughter of...
