Diorite Face of Amun
This finely carved diorite fragment once formed the face of the god Amun within a triad statue depicting him alongside his consort, the goddess Mut, and King Seti I. The composition would almost certainly have shown the king standing between the divine pair, as was customary in Ancient Egyptian art.
In such triads, the pharaoh’s position between the gods both visually and symbolically united them, reflecting his sacred role as the living intermediary between heaven and earth. Seti, at the centre, embodies the divine child and heir of Amun and Mut, the mortal expression of their creative harmony, and thus reaffirms his right to rule as “the beloved of Amun and Mut.”
This composition is echoed in the triads of Ramesses II (son and heir of Seti I), Amenhotep III, and other kings who consciously adopted this iconography to express their legitimacy as the divine son positioned between heaven and earth.
Ramesses II Depicted Between Amun & Mut
This fragmentary face of Amun, carved in enduring diorite, was discovered at Karnak, within the Akhmenu sanctuary, and later re-identified by Egyptologist Hourig Sourouzian, who recognised its join with a group statue unearthed at the site.
Though only the serene visage remains, the workmanship reveals the refined artistry of Seti I’s reign; a period intent on restoring majesty and piety after the turbulence of the Amarna age. Amun’s calm countenance, framed by his divine beard, radiates the god’s eternal composure and hidden power; qualities Seti I sought to emulate in both life and stone.
This surviving fragment preserves a glimmer of the spiritual dialogue between king and god, a lasting testament to the devotion that bound the pharaohs to the divine heart of Karnak.
Summary:
Diorite Face of Amun (from a triad statue depicting Amun and Mut with king Seti I between the divine pair)
New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1294 – 1279 B.C.
From the Akhmenu of Thutmose III, Temple of Amun-Re, Karnak. Musée du Louvre. E 11100
