Nefertiti Statue
This limestone striding figure of Nefertiti was unearthed in the archaeological remnants of the sculptor Thutmose’s workshop, within the remains of the same room (Amarna House P 47.02. Room 19) where the famous bust of the queen was discovered in 1912 by Ludwig Borchardt, at Tel el-Amarna.
The figure was discovered in several fragments and according to Borchardt‘s notes, the base with the feet was retrieved first, followed by the remaining sections. All fragments were found near a bust of Akhenaten (Ägyptisches Museum. ÄM 21360).
In an Ancient Egyptian expression of Damnatio Memoriae by the Amun priesthood and later kings, the attempted erasure of the Amarna Period took place; statues of the royal family of Akhenaten were broken, Aten temples brought down and the entire city of Akhetaten (Tel el-Amarna) destroyed with remnants of the material usurped. However, the carefully modelled face of the striding Nefertiti is undamaged, therefore it cannot be verified that the figure was purposefully dismantled.
On the other hand, damage to the queen’s nipples could indicate deliberate interference, but it is also possible the damage to the finer tips of the bust came from the figure falling forward at some point. The royal insignia of the queen has also been purposely removed. This seems like an obviously deliberate removal rather than damage, this could be one of two things; the Damnatio Memoriae by the later Egyptians removing Nefertiti’s divine status, or possible plundering of the perhaps precious material (gold) of the uraeus by robbers.
Luckily for us in this modern age, except for the missing right forearm and the damaged parts in the left shoulder area, the statuette was able to be totally reassembled.
The figure, measuring at 40.5cm tall, is made from limestone and traces of paint still linger, most noticeably upon the eyelines, brows and lips. Egyptologists tend to believe this is depicting the queen during middle age.
The idea of this figure depicting an aged queen, is simply based upon Nefertiti’s appearance depicted within the figure. Scholars take note of the fine line work of her facial details, such as the “tear troughs”, nasolabial folds, both things more present than previous statuary of the queen, along with the deeper set frown lines at the corners of her mouth. These rather but not extremely noticeable features of age, along with the bust drooping slightly in profile, is what makes Egyptologists associate this with an older queen Nefertiti. Although as of yet, it has never been established when or how Nefertiti died, it is generally believed Nefertiti, after vanishing from record, died sometime during her early to mid-forties.
Although many theories arise about Nefertiti and her role both during and after the reign of king Akhenaten, many tend to believe that she at one point ruled as pharaoh. It is generally believed that Nefertiti’s status was enhanced above that of Great Royal Wife, with Akhenaten promoting her to co-regent before his death. Nefertiti is represented at several archaeological sites with kingly iconography such as; smiting Egypt’s foes and riding chariots.
Summary:
Striding limestone statuette of Nefertiti
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1349-1336 B.C.
From Tel el-Amarna, Remnants of Thutmoses’ Workshop, (Amarna House P 47.02. Room 19) .
Ägyptisches Museum. ÄM 21263
