Carved from resilient silicified sandstone and rising to a height of 17 cm, this finely sculpted bull statuette stands as a testament to the enduring reverence of bovine symbolism in Ancient Egyptian culture. With dimensions of 8 cm in width and 26.5 cm in depth, and a sturdy weight of 4.06 kg, the piece exudes...
The Ba was a profoundly mystical and vital element of the soul, representing a person’s unique essence and individuality. Often depicted as a bird with a human head, the Ba was far more than a mere symbol. It embodied a person’s personality, mobility, and memories, those intimate qualities that distinguished one being from another. Unlike...
Ducks, in the Egyptian imagination, fluttered not only through the marshes of the Nile but also through the very fabric of their art, architecture, and personal possessions. In Tutankhamun’s tomb, exquisite wooden duck toys, beautifully painted to mimic the vibrant plumage of real ducks, were discovered nestled among his treasures. These toys, perhaps crafted for...
This blue glazed amuletic wand or throw stick, inscribed for king Akhenaten with the protective Wedjat-eye, showcases the evolving artistic and ritual sensibilities of the Amarna Period. Unlike earlier boomerang-shaped hunting sticks, its shallow curve and delicate form suggest a ceremonial or symbolic function, perhaps as a ritual baton or club. Each side is adorned...
A masterpiece of both delicate craftsmanship and regal symbolism, this ring, fashioned from gold in hollow bas-relief, boasts an intricate rectangular bezel framed by added spirals and stops, with a swollen, almost sculptural band that suggests opulence and command. Upon its surface, hieroglyphs elegantly proclaim Horemheb’s coronation name, accompanied by depictions of a scorpion, crocodile,...
In Ancient Egypt, priestesses moved with reverence and rhythm through temple courts and sacred halls, their linen robes rustling like whispers of the gods. These women, often chosen from noble or elite families, were no ordinary attendants, they were the earthly hands and voices of the divine, charged with the sacred duties of service to...
This mummy of a juvenile dog was discovered in the necropolis of Asyut during Ernesto Schiaparelli’s excavation between 1910 and 1912. Now housed in Cabinet 51 of Room 11 at the Egyptian Museum of Turin (Museo Egizio. Suppl. 11005), the animal’s form is modest in scale, measuring 28 by 44 centimetres, yet richly evocative of...
To the Ancient Egyptians, Nefertum, the radiant deity of the blue lotus, emerged from the primordial waters as the fragrant bloom that first opened at the dawn of creation. Often depicted as a handsome youth crowned with a lotus flower (sometimes flanked by plumes or lions), Nefertum embodied both rebirth and divine fragrance, serving as...
The coffin of Tamutmutef, “Chantress of Amun”, is an exquisite example of funerary craftsmanship from the Third Intermediate Period, dating approximately between 1076 and 746 B.C. This period, following the decline of the New Kingdom, was marked by political fragmentation and a shift in religious power, particularly toward the priesthood of Amun at Thebes. Within...
This rectangular slab of black siltstone, dating to the reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.), once formed part of a temple’s architectural adornment. It is sculpted in sunk relief on both faces, though one side survives in better condition. The decoration consists of offering scenes surmounted by a dado of niche patterns and crowned...
