Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Apotropaic Wand Fragment

Apotropaic Wand Fragment

“One side of this ivory fragment wand carving depicts a figure of a crocodile with its tail curved below the head and body. The mouth, eyes, leg scales, and body ridges are carved in minute detail. With its eye open and jaws closed in alert pose it faces right toward the accompanying figures (now lost)....

The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony on the deceased King. Scene from the Burial Chamber of Tutankhamun

Opening of the Mouth Ceremony of Tutankhamun

This scene is unique in its nature. We never witnessed an heir or a successor performing the ritual of the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony on the deceased King. The scene from the north wall of the burial chamber in the Tomb of Tutankhamun shows the brown “freckling” of the paintings that may have resulted...

Kneeling statue of Hatshepsut making an offering of Nu vases

Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

In this statue, Hatshepsut is kneeling and making an offering of Nu vases. From her mortuary temple in Deir el-Bahari, West Thebes. By making this offering, Hatshepsut affirms that Maat is the guiding principal of her reign. Hatshepsut, also spelled Hatshepsut, female king of Egypt who attained unprecedented power for a woman, adopting the full...

Moulded faience vase in the form of the goddess Taweret

Vase of goddess Taweret

This Egyptian faience vase is molded in the form of the goddess Taweret, the ancient Egyptian patroness of childbirth and a protector of women and children. Like Bes, she was considered to be a ferocious demon as well as a protective and nurturing deity. She was associated with the lion, the crocodile, and the hippo;...

Pectoral of King Shoshenq II. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 72171

Pectoral of Shoshenq II

At its top, this pectoral King Shoshenq II displays two falcons, each wearing the Double Pschent Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. They are sitting upon the hieroglyphic symbol for sky, which is adorned with stars. Below, resting upon a boat, can be seen a lapis lazuli sun-disc, with an image of the enthroned god...

Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt, by Emily Teeter

Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt

“This book is a vivid reconstruction of the practical aspects of ancient Egyptian religion. Through an examination of artifacts and inscriptions, the text explores a variety of issues. Clues to the proper understanding of Egyptian mysteries are contained in the Book of the Dead Spell 148, which instructs, “This [papyrus] roll is a real secret....

Om El Donia 'Mother of the World' Statue in Port Said

Om El Donia Statue in Port Said

View of the large bronze statue of Om El Donia (“Mother of the World”), in the newly opened so-called ‘Egypt Square’ in the northern coastal city of Port Said. Om El Donia statue is a contemporary piece representing Egypt’s Pharaonic age and featuring Ptolemaic influence. Sculpted by Egyptian artist Essam Darwish. At this present time,...

Axe with Kha monogram

Axe with Kha monogram

This bronze Axe with the monogram of Kha is incised on the upper face of the blade. Some of the tools found in Kha’s funerary assemblage belong to the world of carpentry. An axe stands out among them. It has a wooden handle and a bronze blade, engraved with Kha’s monogram, attached by an elaborate...

Statue of Queen Iset. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 37417; CG 42072

Statue of Queen Iset

The Queen Iset or Isis, was the mother of King Thutmose III, second great royal wife of King Thutmose II. The Queen wears a large wig, with two uraeus at the forehead, the left one wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt and the right one wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. The base...

Statue of King Ramesses II as a child and the god Hauron

Statue of Ramesses II as a child

This statue represents King Ramesses II as a child, sitting in front of the Canaanite sun god Hauron, who is in the shape of a hawk. The king is presented in the typical manner for an Egyptian child: naked, his finger to his mouth, with a large sidelock of youth hanging from the right side...