Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Ramesses II sat between the god Amun and his consort the goddess Mut

Ramesses II sat between the god Amun and his consort the goddess Mut

This seated triad statue of king Ramesses II, sat between the deities, and immortal consorts Amun and Mut, is made from solid granite and comes from the Temple of Amun at Karnak, modern Luxor, and dates from c. 1279–1213 B.C. The three sit eternally in each other’s company, embracing as they smile ahead. Ramesses, is...

Anubis in human form at the Temple of Ramesses II, Abydos.

Anubis in human form

Arguably one of the most famous Ancient Egyptian deities recognized in the modern world, Anubis (jnpw), known to the Egyptians as Anpu, is an icon of the ancient world. From books to movies, his likeness still remains a favourite, and he is recognized worldwide, often springing to mind when Ancient Egypt is mentioned in entertainment...

Amethyst head of Arsinoë II, Queen of Ptolemaic Egypt. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 42.190

Amethyst head of Arsinoë II, Queen of Ptolemaic Egypt

Arsinoë II was a Queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, who also held the Egyptian titles of King of Upper & Lower Egypt, making her pharaoh. Being wife of King Lysimachus; a Thessalian officer and successor of Alexander the Great, and King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon, Arsinoë was also the Queen of Macedonia, Thrace, and...

Statue of the protective goddess Meretseger

Statue of the protective goddess Meretseger

This statue represents goddess Meretseger, one of the protective goddesses that were found in the tomb of king Amenhotep II (KV35) in the Valley of the Kings. They were responsible for protecting the body of the king in his afterlife journey. It represents Meretseger in the form of the winged cobra. Meretseger, a cobra goddess...

Three rings of Tutankhamun

Three rings of Tutankhamun

Wrapped together in a package, placed above the right wrist of the mummy of Tutankhamun, were five rings, three of which are illustrated here. (Top to bottom) (a) Particular interest attaches to the material of this ring. It is a green translucent stone, which Carter thought was chalcedony. However, scientific tests carried out by Alfred...

Triad statue of Ni-ka-re (Nykara), Inspector of the Scribes of the Granary, and his family.

Triad statue of Ni-ka-re (Nykara)

In this Old Kingdom, Late 5th Dynasty, triad statue, dating from approximately 2455-2350 B.C., we see an Ancient Egyptian style family portrait of a man called Ni-ka-re (Nykara), his wife Ni-ka.w-nb (.w) and their son Ankh-ma-re. Such statues were often placed in tombs for offerings to be received, yet they were also placed within households...

Cosmetic spoon in the form of a swimming girl.

Cosmetic spoon

In the realm of Ancient Egyptian personal adornment, the cosmetic spoon emerges as a captivating blend of artistry and daily ritual. Far more than a simple vessel, these delicately carved spoons; often depicting figures of swimmers, lotus blossoms, or animals, offered a glimpse into the sophisticated cosmetic practices of the New Kingdom. Fashioned from fine...

Art of the Egyptologist - Émile Prisse d'Avennes

Art of the Egyptologist

Before photography became most prevalent, Egyptologists would heavily rely on artists to document the relics and monuments of the ancient world. Even Howard Carter himself started his career as an artist, documenting what he saw before him in temples and tombs. Here we see an example of the beautiful artwork of Émile Prisse d’Avennes, a...

The Mummy of King Merenptah

The mummy of king Merenptah

The mummy of king Merenptah Rather similarly to the recently crowned King Charles III, Merenptah took the throne later in life. Merenptah became king when he was approximately 70 years of age due to outliving his older brothers. He was the son of Ramesses II (also known as Ramesses the Great), who amazingly lived until...

Harpocrates flanked by Isis & Nepthys

Harpocrates flanked by Isis & Nepthys

Sister goddesses, Isis and Nepthys, stand beside and hold hands with Harpocrates, the god of silence, secrets and confidentiality in the Hellenistic religion developed in Ptolemaic Alexandria. Harpocrates stands in the centre, his youthfulness indicated by his nudity and the sidelock of hair worn on his head. He is flanked by Isis and Nephthys. All...