Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Gold Inlaid Pectoral of Queen Ahhotep I

Gold Inlaid Pectoral of Queen Ahhotep I

This inlaid pectoral of Queen Ahhotep I is in the shape of a shrine. Its base is decorated with wavy lines in reference to the primeval water. It is protected by two falcons. In the center of a boat, King Ahmose I is shown with the gods Re and Amun. The two gods are pouring...

Mummy of Queen Ahmose-Meritamun

Mummy of Queen Ahmose-Meritamun

The mummy of Queen Ahmose-Meritamun was buried in tomb (TT358) in Deir el-Bahari in two cedar wood coffins and a cartonnage outer case, which is now damaged. Cartonnage is linen or papyrus held together by glue and molded into coffins. The tomb, in antiquity, had been robbed and apparently the mummy was plundered. Nevertheless, during...

Sandals of Tutankhamun

Sandals of Tutankhamun

King Tutankhamun would symbolically trample on his enemies when he wore his sandals. This unique sandals are also adorned on the top and bottom by the nine bows, symbols of the traditional enemies of Egypt. This pair of sandals is made of leather and has depictions of enemies on the soles. Four human figures portraying...

Golden Flies of Queen Ahhotep I

Necklace of Ahhotep with Golden Flies

Necklace of Queen Ahhotep, or Iah (“peace of the moon”) with golden flies. The fly symbolized tenacity, this ceremonial necklace given as award for valor in battle. This necklace, with three pendants in the form of flies, was given to queen Ahhotep by her two sons Kamose and Ahmose in gratitude for her supportive role...

Golden Head of the God Osiris

Gold Head Amulet of Osiris

Amulet showing the head of the god Osiris, on his head he wears the White Hedjet Crown of Upper Egypt on which the uraeus stands out. The cult and images of the god have undergone profound changes over time. For example, Osiris, lord of the underworld, is also included in the solar cycle: it is...

Dancing Pygmies

Dancing Pygmies

This ivory artifact, discovered inside a tomb of a young girl called Hapy, shows three pygmies in a dancing stance. Each one of them is standing on a round base with anklets on their legs. As this is a child’s toy, a system of strings threaded through holes and around a pulley makes the figures...

Relief Plaque with Ram’s Head from a God’s Figure

Relief Plaque with Ram Head from a God Figure

Reliefs like this ram plaque depict a subject in a partial or unfinished way but are themselves complete objects that constitute a special class of object. Guidelines like those for artists are often prominently exhibited as part of the object, although, in fact, many instances can be noted where the object simply could not serve...

Naqada Jar with Painted Decoration

Naqada Jar with Painted Decoration

This Naqada jar is an artifact from Predynastic Period, the earliest period in Egyptian history. The pot was created during what is known as the Naqada II period (3500-3200 BC), long before the pyramids were built. This pot was probably made without use of a pottery wheel. The potter most likely pressed the damp clay...

Triad of King Menkaure

Triad of Menkaure

This sculpted triad, a three-person statue, shows King Menkaure between two ladies. The goddess Hathor is on his right and goddess (Bat) the personification of Cynopolis, the 17th nome of Upper Egypt, is on his left. The King wears the crown of Upper Egypt and has a false beard. He wears the short pleated Shendyt...

The Burial Chamber of King Seti I

The burial chamber of Tomb of Seti I

The tomb of Seti I is one of the longest, deepest, and most beautifully decorated tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Seti I was the second king of the 19th Dynasty, and father of Ramesses II (the Great). His tomb, (KV17) in the Valley of the Kings, is sometimes called “Belzoni’s tomb” after its...