Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history

Ceremonial Shield of Tutankhamun

Ceremonial Shields of Tutankhamun

Among the military equipment found in the tomb of Tutankhamun were eight shields, four of which are ceremonial and are of openwork wood, incised and gilded. On this shield, a winged sun disk curves around the top, protecting the king who is shown with a scimitar in one hand and holding two lions by their...

Limestone head of Khafre

Limestone head of Khafre

This limestone head of a king with inlaid eyes was discovered outside the valley temple of Khafre’s pyramid complex at Giza, and is thought to be a representation of Khafre himself. The king wears the white crown, known as the “Hedjet” crown of Upper Egypt, and his eyes are lined with green. Green was a...

Serene face

This wooden face from a coffin is beautifully carved with fine features and a sense of serenity can be felt from the expression and realism of the craftsmanship. The eyes and brows are inlaid with glass. Blue glass fills the brows and liner of the eyes, whereas the eyes themselves are white and black inlay,...

Nefertiti head unfinished

This head of Nefertiti was discovered in Tel el-Amarna, Egypt, the location of the ancient experimental capital of Akhet-Aten, within the remnants of house P 47.2, room 19 (ÄM 21352). This unfinished limestone head holds the same serene beauty as the more famous bust of the queen, but due to it’s unfinished state, it gives...

Ushabti of Ptahmes

Ptahmes wears a tripartite wig which was painted black. The face is painted red and has clearly delineated features, including ears, nose, mouth and eyes. The eyes are outlined in black paint. There is no beard. The arms are shown bent at the elbows and held across the belly. The hands are shown in fists...

Monkey's Grooming

Monkey’s Grooming

This small limestone figurine depicts a monkey grooming another, and from the right side a small monkey can be seen grooming another tiny monkey, between the two.The purpose of this figurine is uncertain, it could have been made just as an amusing trinket. However, the Royal Ontario Museum, where this piece now resides, actually proposes...

Ramesses II smiting a Nubian

Ramesses II smiting a Nubian, depicted in the Temple of Beit el-Wali; a rock-cut temple the king had built in the Nubian region for seemingly propagandist reasoning. The temple was dedicated to the deities; Ra-Horakhty, Amun-Ra, Anuket and Khnum (feminine & masculine Nile deities). The Temple of Beit el-Wali was relocated to higher ground in...

Cleopatra II or III

This head of a queen most likely represents Cleopatra II or her daughter, Cleopatra III. There were 7 Cleopatra’s of Egypt overall, with the 7th being the most notable, going just by “Cleopatra” to the masses. Despite this, the other Cleopatras’ reigns were also filled with notoriety and left some splendid artefacts, such as this...

Imti

This wooden figure depicts Imti as a youth. Dating from around 1900-1800 B.C., it dates from the Middle Kingdom. It is inscribed with a funerary prayer, “Revered before Osiris, Imti, the blessed.” Imti is depicted as a youth, striding forth, nude, wearing only a necklace and cuffs. Children were often (but not always) depicted with...

Quartzite torso of Meketaten

Meketaten was born approximately in Year 4 of Akhenaten’s reign to him and his Great Royal Wife, Nefertiti. She had an elder sister, Meritaten, and four younger sisters: Ankhesenpaaten, Neferneferuaten Tasherit, Neferneferure and Setepenre. Tutankhaten was likely their full brother or half-brother through their father. The first known depiction of Meketaten is on the walls...