Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history
This quartzite statue represents the priest Horwedjau, its surface adorned with an inscription that entreats the priests of the Temple at Coptos (Koptos) to offer invocations during various festivals, ensuring the well-being of his Ka. Though the statue’s head is missing, and its feet and base have been restored, its form—a block statue—remains significant. This...
These exquisite panels, once the doors of a small wooden shrine, were crafted from Egyptian fig wood and reinforced with two Lebanese cedar dowels embedded in each. Discovered in Egypt, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the everyday devotion of the Greco-Egyptian society, reflecting the worship of two deities that bridged two cultures. Isis, a...
In 2021, archaeologists in Egypt made a fascinating discovery; a 2,500-year-old mummy with a golden tongue. Found at the Taposiris Magna temple near Alexandria, this remarkable find is believed to be linked to ancient burial rituals aimed at ensuring the deceased could speak in the afterlife. The Mummy with the Golden Tongue was discovered in...
The stele features a concave shape with a bas-relief of Nakhtimen in a kneeling position, adorned with a pleated kilt, wig, and a ‘usekh’ collar. Above him, the goddess Meretseger is depicted as a cobra with a disc and horns. A table of offerings is also present. The hieroglyphic inscriptions include the names and titles...
This stele was dedicated by artisan Bay to Amun-Re and comes from the workers’ village of Deir el-Medina. It still retains its vivid colors, in particular the three pairs of ears painted blue, yellow, and green on the left side. These represent the ears of the god that “listens to prayers”. This form of Amun-Re...
The stele depicts Nit-Ptah, his wife Seni, and their family: two males alternating with two females to create a pleasing chromatic contrast as a result of the different colors of their skins. Men were painted in ochre and women in light cream wash. The head of the family, Nit-Ptah, is shown on the right, wearing...
Made of wood, this comb with a resting gazelle dates from the Golden Age of the 18th Dynasty, during the reign of Amenhotep III. Combs in Ancient Egypt were both practical grooming tools and symbols of status and craftsmanship. Made from wood, bone, or ivory, they often featured intricate carvings and designs, reflecting the artistry...
Dating from around c. 600-200 B.C., this golden inlaid depiction of a hawk or falcon in flight, would have been a representation of the deity Horus. Inlaid with multicoloured glass, the British Museum archives this piece as a pectoral. Based upon appearance, it appears the claws are missing and would have once been placed within...
In ancient Egypt, clappers, carved from materials like ivory or wood, were percussion instruments used in rituals and ceremonies, often linked to the goddess Hathor. Found in a coffin at Amarna, they served not only musical purposes but also held symbolic significance in religious contexts, particularly during worship and festivals.
This marble bust of Thutmose III was found at Deir el-Bahari in two pieces. The head that you see here is original, and was found during excavations in 1964, whereas the body is a cast of the original piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The colours of the royal nemes-headdress are very strong,...