Ceremonial Axe of Ahmose I

The ceremonial axe of King Ahmose I, founder of the 18th Dynasty, stands as a tribute to his victories and the liberation of Egypt from the Hyksos. This exquisite weapon is adorned with intricate scenes celebrating the king’s triumphs. Ahmose is depicted in the form of a sphinx, symbolising his strength and divine authority. Above him, Nekhbet, the vulture goddess, hovers over a lily, representing Upper Egypt, while Wadjet, the rearing cobra, presides over a papyrus, the emblem of Lower Egypt.

A particularly striking scene features Heh, the god of eternity, holding the plant that signifies millions of years, reinforcing the notion of enduring kingship and divine favour. The axe’s composition reflects not only the military prowess of Ahmose but also the sacred legitimacy of his reign.

On one side, the king’s cartouches are prominently displayed at the top. In the centre, Ahmose is depicted striking down his enemy, a powerful assertion of his role as Egypt’s liberator. At the base, a winged sphinx embodies the king himself, further emphasising his might and protection over the land.

The Egyptians revere two kings above all others for unifying their nation: Narmer, who around 3100 BC established the first dynastic rule, and Ahmose I, who, around 1550 BC, reclaimed a fractured Egypt and ushered in the illustrious New Kingdom.

At the time of Ahmose’s ascension, Egypt was in great turmoil. The Hyksos, foreign rulers of Asiatic origin whose name translates as “rulers of foreign lands,” had seized control of the Nile Delta. Their rule was marked by brutality—they had slaughtered King Seqenenre Tao, Ahmose’s father, and shattered the Egyptian army. The Theban rulers of Upper Egypt were forced to pay tribute, and their princesses were taken as wives by the invaders.

The savagery of the Hyksos occupation was later recorded by the Egyptian historian Manetho, who wrote:

“[They] burned our cities ruthlessly, razed to the ground the temples of our gods, and treated all the natives with a cruel hostility.”

Ahmose I’s victory and subsequent expulsion of the Hyksos restored Egypt’s sovereignty and set the stage for an era of unparalleled prosperity and expansion. His triumph, immortalised in this ceremonial axe, remains a testament to his enduring legacy as one of Egypt’s greatest warrior-kings.

Summary:


Ceremonial axe of king Ahmose I

New Kingdom, early 18th Dynasty, reign of Ahmose I, c. 1550-1524 B.C.

Gold, electrum, copper alloy, semiprecious stones and wood. Height 47.5 em (18% in.); width 6.7 em (2% in.).

From Tomb of Ahhotep, Dra’ Abu el-Naga’, Thebes. Now in the Luxor Museum. JE4673 – CG 52645