Jasper Head of Leopard inscribed for Hatshepsut

This rather splendid little leopard, carved from rich red jasper nearly 3,500 years ago, offers a fascinating glimpse into the leisurely pursuits of Ancient Egyptian royalty.

Measuring just 3.2 cm in height, this exquisitely detailed leopard’s head bears the cartouche of Ma’at-Ka-Re, the throne name of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut. An inscription upon the back of its neck further identifies her as “Hatshepsut, linked with Amun”.

Two remarkably similar jasper pieces are known, suggesting that all three once belonged to an elaborate gaming set, possibly used for Senet or Twenty Squares, two board games enjoyed in Egypt during the New Kingdom.

But what exactly were these ancient games?

• Senet, meaning “passing”, was among Egypt’s most beloved pastimes. Played by two opponents upon a board of thirty squares arranged in three rows, it involved moving gaming pieces according to the throws of casting sticks or knucklebones. More than mere entertainment, Senet eventually acquired profound religious significance, symbolising the soul’s perilous journey through the afterlife. Queen Nefertari (Great Royal Wife of Ramesses II) is famously depicted playing it in her tomb.

• Twenty Squares, meanwhile, was a game of twenty spaces introduced into Egypt from the ancient Near East. Like Senet, it involved two players moving their pieces along a prescribed course, with chance determining their progress. Some gaming boxes were ingeniously designed with Senet on one side and Twenty Squares on the reverse, allowing their owners to enjoy either game!

Although the precise rules of these ancient pastimes remain uncertain, surviving boards and gaming pieces reveal a society that appreciated recreation, competition and the occasional stroke of good fortune.

One can only imagine the elegant little jasper leopard making its way across a beautifully crafted board, perhaps in the company of Hatshepsut herself!

Met Museum Article on Senet & Twenty Squares by Danielle Zwang

Summary:

Red Jasper Head of a Leopard with the Name of Hatshepsut

New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1473–1458 B.C.

Met Museum. 26.7.1452

Formerly in the Hilton Price Collection, the piece was purchased by Lord Carnarvon at Sotheby’s in 1911. It entered the Metropolitan Museum’s collection in 1926, following its acquisition from Lady Carnarvon.