Detail of a bas relief depicting the crocodile headed god Sobek at Temple of Kom Ombo. Sobek was associated with the Nile River and was often depicted as a powerful and fearsome deity with the head of a crocodile and the body of a human. He was believed to have control over the waters and...
An Egyptian pottery wavy-handled jar inscribed for king Narmer. Formed of Nile alluvial clay, the surface ranging in color from light reddish-brown to beige-cream, of elongated ovoid form, on a slightly convex base, with rounded shoulders and an overhanging rim. The shoulders with triple-arching wavy handles, with a three-character inscription incised below one of the...
“This authoritative yet accessible book tells the story of these Nubian pharaohs of Egypt, from the origins of their kingdom of Kush, through their time as rulers of Egypt, to their heritage in the heart of Sudan―and their rediscovery in modern times. The region of Nubia―now spanning the modern border between Egypt and Sudan―was long...
The heart scarab of Hatnefer is an exceptionally fine example of this type of funerary equipment and is comparable to those made for contemporary royalty. Every feature of the scarab beetle is carefully rendered. The exquisite chain is made of gold wire, plaited in a quadruple-link pattern. The scarab’s base is engraved with a version...
The spectacular “Asyut Dog” is a large limestone statue of what may be a dog, a wolf or a golden jackal – the latter is the most likely. The statue is thought to come from the area surrounding the city of Asyut in Middle Egypt, and more specifically from the vicinity of its sacred animal...
One of the best-known vignettes in the Book of the Dead of Taysnakht is that of the weighing of the heart (“psychostasia”) in the tribunal of the Double Truth, in the presence of Osiris and other gods of the netherworld. The heart of the deceased is placed on one pan of a pair of scales,...
In ancient Egypt, wine played a significant role in their culture and society. It was considered a luxury item and was consumed by both the elite and common people. Wine was produced from grapes and other fruits, and it was often used in religious ceremonies, as offerings to the gods, and for medicinal purposes. The...
A brownish residue from a perfumed oil was found inside this Egyptian alabaster tall vase from the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Oils, essential for rituals, were highly valued. The Tomb of Tutankhamun contained various artifacts, including perfumed oil vases. This vase was discovered during the excavation of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in...
Upon death, people who were thought to have lived moral lives were reborn in the afterlife as a form of the god Osiris. This Ptolemaic gold ring is inscribed with the title “Osiris,” followed by the owner’s names and titles, attesting to his faith that he would become one with the god after death. Gold...
Cartonnage shell containing the mummy of Kharushere, who held the office of Doorkeeper of the House of Amun. His parents were the Doorkeeper of the House of Amun, Bes, and the Mistress of the House, Chantress of Amun, Tanetheretib. The outer layer of Kharushere’s mummy consists of a large sheet. It is held in place...
