Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Girdle with Cowrie Shells

Girdle with Cowrie Shells

This girdle with cowrie shells was found with other pieces of jewelry in the plundered chamber reached by a shaft in the portico of a rock-cut tomb in the Asasif section of the Theban necropolis. Among the finds were parts of a rectangular wooden coffin with green hieroglyphs on a yellow background as well as...

Relief of the god Amun-Re

Relief of Amenhotep I as Amun-Re

A limestone lintel from the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak depicts the deified King Amenhotep I, shown wearing the headdress of the god Amun-Re. Shown here a remain of a wall that has a niche that probably housed a statue. It’s topped by the Egyptian cavetto cornice and we can see the Niswt Bity title...

Relief of King Senusret I before the god Min-Amun

Senusret I before Min-Amun

In this relief King Senusret I presents offerings to the god Min-Amun, shown in his ithyphallic form. Min, Egyptian god of fertility. He was invoked for animal, vegetable and human fertility. Min is represented in human form with legs placed close together like those of a mummy and an erect phallus. A flail is depicted...

Queen Nefertiti Kissing her Daughter

Relief of Queen Nefertiti Kissing her Daughter

Carved in sunk relief upon limestone, this tender scene depicts Nefertiti gently kissing one of her daughters, whose small arm affectionately encircles her mother. To the right, three vertical columns of hieroglyphs have suffered mutilation, while above, a single ray of the Aten extends downwards, clasping an ankh, the symbol of life. The artists have...

Relief of a Honeybee

Relief of a Honeybee

Detail of a relief on a column depicts a honeybee on a column in the High sacred Precinct of Amun-Re, Karnak Temple Complex. The Egyptian name for honey was “bit”, a word also used for bees. Beekeeping in Egypt has been attested since the III millennium BC, but perhaps it was practiced in even older...

Signet Ring of King Amenhotep II

Signet Ring of Amenhotep II

Solid-cast gold signet ring with swiveling rectangular bezel inscribed on one side with the throne name of King Amenhotep II and epithets: “the perfect god, son of Amun, mighty lord” [nTr nfr sA imn nb xpS]; and on the other side, “the one who fights against hundred thousands, son of Re, Amenhotep, divine ruler of...

Gold Ring Decorated with a Hathor Sistrum

Gold Ring Decorated with a Hathor Sistrum

The ring, decorated with a Hathor sistrum, which is clearly an ancient Egyptian product, was found in a Late Bronze Age Canaanite tomb at Tell el-Ajjul, indicating that Egyptian amulets besides scarabs were used by the Canaanite population during this period, in emulation of Egyptian customs. The connection of the cat with the Hathor sistrum...

Eye of Horus Amulet

Eye of Horus Amulet

Carnelian wadjet amulet (eye of Horus). One side is carved with details. Slightly curved profile and not pierced for suspension. Broken across in two pieces and mended together. In ancient Egypt, people wear carnelian to ward off the Evil Eye and instill peace. The ancient Egyptians called carnelian “the setting sun”. Wadjet eye amulets were...

Gold Amulet of the God Nehebkau

Amulet of the God Nehebkau

Nehebkau, often depicted as a male with a snake head, was originally the explanation of the cause of binding of Ka and Ba after death. Thus his name, which means (one who) brings together Ka and Ba. Since these aspects of the soul were said to bind after death, Nehebkau was said to have guarded...

Amulet of Amun

Amulet of the god Amun

Similar amulet pendants of Amun have been recovered from the royal tombs at Kurru and Nuri in Sudan, and Nubian royalty is often depicted wearing similarly impressive decorations. On the back of the figure is a loop for a chain so that the amulet could be worn around the neck. The figure shows the god...