Among the military equipment found in the tomb of Tutankhamun were eight shields, four of which are ceremonial and are of openwork wood, incised and gilded. On this shield, a winged sun disk curves around the top, protecting the king who is shown with a scimitar in one hand and holding two lions by their...
Black siltstone base and lid of the anthropoid sarcophagus of Sasobek, northern vizier of Egypt during the reign of Psamtik I: the lid is finely carved, showing the deceased wearing wig, beard and collar and with two vertical registers of hieroglyphic offering texts, surmounted by a figure of Nut. “It may have been found in...
The statue depicting king Osorkon III kneeling and pushing a barque of Seker, red color on headdress and kilt, possibly an undercoat for gilding, now lost. Osorkon III ruled during the 8th century BC as part of the 23rd Dynasty. He was known for his military campaigns and efforts to restore stability to the kingdom...
The portrait was found by the archaeologist Albert Gayet during the excavation campaign of 1904 or 1905 at the necropolis of Antinoopolis in Middle Egypt. It entered the Louvre’s collections in 1905. A fragment of the right side of the board has been reglued. The paint has worn away on the nose, leaving a dark...
“Mourners shake and pull their hair on reliefs and paintings from ancient Egypt. They took part in funerary ceremonies in ancient Egypt, contributing to the dead’s resurrection in the afterlife. Hair played a clear role in these rites. In this publication Maria Rosa Valdesogo describes the relation between hair and these rites, and the role...
This Ancient Egyptian model boat is almost 4000 years old! It comes from an 11th Dynasty in the Middle Kingdom shaft tomb at Beni Hasan in central Egypt. The tomb belonged to an official called Ja’Y or Tjay – described on his coffin as a Steward or “Controller of the Household”. The wooden boat is...
The outer coffin of Hor belongs to the type known as “qeresu”, i.e., a rectangular box with small pillars, which made its appearance during the 25th Dynasty. It is a “cosmogram”, its vaulted lid representing the sky and the case the earthly realm of Osiris. Its iconography reflects this concept: a cordon of deities is...
This head of King Userkaf was found in his Sun Temple dedicated by him to the god Re at Abusir. The royal head, wearing the Deshret or the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, is a striking example of the style marking the beginning of the 5th Dynasty. When it was discovered, it was first attributed...
This pair of socks were made in the 4th to 5th century, and were excavated in Egypt at the end of the 19th century. They have a divided toe and are designed to be worn with sandals. The technique used for making these socks are commonly confused with knitting. They were made in the technique...
The so-called “reserve heads” are exquisitely carved limestone sculptures, believed to be a representation of the heads of tomb owners. These heads, with their remarkably realistic features, skull caps, and despite being stone, an intense gaze, each with a unique expression of serenity or nonchalantness. Their purpose, however, remains a subject of debate. A total...
