Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Limestone fragmentary stele with Akhenaten

Fragmentary stele of Akhenaten

In this stele, Akhenaten is slouched on a low-backed, cushioned chair with side struts in the form of the ancient royal symbol for the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, which is partly obscured by the long sash of his pleated kilt. The Aten disk was above him, in the center of the stele. The...

Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World

Tutankhamun: the Tomb that Changed the World

“It is often thought that the story of Tutankhamun ended when the thousands of dazzling items discovered by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon were transported to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and put on display. But there is far more to the boy-king’s story. Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World explores the 100...

Discovery of the tomb of Kha and Merit at Deir el Medina

Discovery of the Tomb of Kha

After the discovery of the tomb of Kha by the Italian archaeologists, the Egyptian authorities insisted only on a small part of Kha’s finds so that a bronze lamp and its tall wooden support, breads, blocks of salt and 19 terracotta vases were retained by Egypt. All the rest of more than 500 items was...

Cartouches of the god Aten

Cartouches of Aten

This block of crystalline limestone once graced the railing of a stairway in a temple of the god Aten. It is in the form of a double cartouche, which usually enclosed the name of the king. In this relief instead, the cartouches contain the names of the sun disk Aten, the one god of king...

Model of Musical Entertainment

Model of Musical Entertainment

The wooden model of musical entertainment from the tomb of Ka-tenen depicts musicians and singers performing for the master. The master is seated on a carrying chair. A woman is seated on a stool by his feet. A man and a woman, who are positioned on either side of the carrying chair, are playing harps....

Ostracon Showing a Cat Waiting on a Mouse

Ostracon of a Cat Waiting on a Mouse

In this ostracon, a cat funerary priest approaches a mouse with offerings. The mouse wears a lotus flower on its head, sits on a chair, sniffs a flower, and holds out a cup to be filled. The cat, standing on his hind legs, fans the mouse and offers a roasted duck and a piece of...

Stool of Tutankhamun with Sema Tawy Symbol. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 62039

Stool of Tutankhamun with Sema Tawy Symbol

The stool of Tutankhamun is made of wood and covered in gold leaf, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian artisans. The elements of the stool are joined to each other with copper pins. The chair’s legs were modeled to look like the legs of a lion. The lion held a privileged status in ancient...

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, by Elizabeth Payne

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

“The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt explains how archaeologists have pieced together their discoveries to slowly reveal the history of Egypt’s people, its pharaohs, and its golden days. Long ago, a great civilization thrived along the banks of the Nile River. Ruled by awesome god-kings called pharaohs, Egypt was a land of bustling cities, golden palaces,...

The Rosetta Stone

On the 15th of July 1799, amidst the dust and ruins near the town of el-Rashid (Rosetta) in the Nile Delta, a group of French soldiers under Napoleon’s command made a discovery that would forever alter our understanding of Ancient Egypt. The stone itself was not originally set up at Rosetta, but at a temple...

Figurine of a Woman Making Beer

Statuette of a Woman Making Beer

This lively statuette of a woman is presented in the act of making beer, kneading dough in a strainer over a large jar. The woman is wearing only a close-fitting, medium-length white skirt and a necklace. The pale blue shape of which can be clearly seen around her neck. Her hair is covered by a...