Colossal Tutankhamun
This colossal statue of king Tutankhamun is one of two colossal figures of the king discovered at Medinet Habu, within the remnants of the Hypostyle Hall of the Funerary Temple of king Ay and Horemheb.
Made of quartzite, this statue stands around 10ft tall. The remnants of paint remain, giving us a clear indication of how this statue looked within it’s prime, despite the damage to the face and missing limbs.
Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 59869
Tutankhamun is wearing a kilt (known as a “shendyt” to the Ancient Egyptians”), with a falcon headed dagger protruding out from his waistband. His throne name written in hieroglyphs upon what appears to be his belt-clip and appears to have been usurped by Horemheb. He wears a usekh collar and nemes headdress with the royal blue and yellow (or gold) patterning, just like he is seen wearing upon his death mask.
His eyes are lined, and his brows are black and arched. His false royal beard has been damaged, but the band around his jaw remains and the shape of where the false beard once was gives us a clear of idea of how it appeared upon creation. The uraeus has been damaged, this could have been purposeful damage by the Ancient Egyptian’s themselves, as Tutankhamun came from a controversial lineage, that was erased by later kings (see Akhenaten and his Amarna revolution). However, his nose is intact, as is the larger portion of his mouth, so spiritual venegence may not have been the reason behind the damage, perhaps usurping, or perhaps just the sands of time.
Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 59869
This painted colossal of Tutankhamun is really a beautiful piece of New Kingdom craftsmanship, that showcases the time and effort and talent that went into creating statues of the kings, even if their reign was short, even if the king was young and possibly suffering with ailments, and even if Egypt had just come out of a less than prosperous time. Such delicate craftsmanship has allowed us to see the face of Tutankhamun carved from quartzite, or at least how the Ancient Egyptians wanted him to be seen.
Summary:
Painted Quartzite Colossal of Tutankhamun
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1355-1346 B.C.
Found within the remnants of the Hypostyle Hall of the Mortuary Temple of Ay and Horemheb, at Medinet Habu
Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 59869
Colossal Tutankhamun II
Another colossal of Tutankhamun, discovered at the same location, within the Hypostyle Hall of the Funerary Temple of Horemheb and Ay at Medinet Habu, now resides at the Oriental Institute Museum of Chicago. The colossal of Tutankhamun is the tallest Ancient Egyptian statue in the Western Hemisphere.
Like it’s twin colossal at the Egyptian Museum in Cario, this Tutankhamun colossal, too, is made of quartzite, and is less damaged. Standing at over 5 meters (16.4 feet) tall, it weighs approximately 6 tons. The colossal “fragments” were put together again by the museum, allowing the king to stand tall over 3000 years after his reign.
Reconstructed of the Tutankhamun Colossal in Chicago Institute, were the base, lower legs, arms beard and nose.
Registration Number: E14088.
Accession Number: 1490.
Accession Number: 1490) at the Oriental Institute Museum of Chicago.
Summary:
Painted Quartzite Colossal of Tutankhamun
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1355-1346 B.C.
Found within the remnants of the Hypostyle Hall of the Mortuary Temple of Ay and Horemheb, at Medinet Habu.
Now at the Oriental Institute Museum of Chicago. E14088, AN: 1490.
