Egypt Museum ancient Egypt art culture and history
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Painted relief depicts goddess Hathor offers Menat necklace to Seti I, from a pillar in the Tomb of Seti I (KV17) in the Valley of the Kings, West Thebes. Seti I’s tomb is known for its rich decoration, which included elaborate depictions of gods and pharaohs in various religious contexts. It’s also famous for the...
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This statue, a life-sized representation, presents Hatshepsut wearing the nemes headdress—an insignia typically reserved for the reigning king. While she is draped in female attire, the inscriptions beside her legs already bear her throne name, Ma’at-Ka-Re, yet interestingly her titles remain feminine, calling her the “Lady of the Two Lands” and the “Bodily Daughter of...
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Nestled within the hallowed grounds of Deir el-Medina’s East Cemetery, Tomb 1379 stands as a silent testament to the lives and legacies of its inhabitants. This ancient necropolis, home to the artisans who toiled upon the grandeur of Pharaonic tombs, harbours the remains of Satnem and Nub, figures shrouded in the mystique of Egypt’s storied...
Sobekemsaf was a Theban king of the Second Intermediate Period, when northern Egypt was occupied by the Hyksos. This chest contained his embalmed entrails, which were wrapped and contained in four ‘canopic’ jars. An image of these jars is painted on the flat inside lid of this chest. The outer surface of the lid is...
Nakhtmin was a prominent military commander during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty. His distinguished titles included “Fan-bearer on the Right Side of the King,” “King’s Scribe,” “The True Servant Who Benefits His Lord,” and “The Servant Who Ensures the Name of His Lord Endures.” These honours were inscribed on five ushabtis...
In 2023, an archaeological team led by renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass made a groundbreaking discovery at Saqqara, an ancient burial site near Cairo, Egypt. This excavation uncovered several Old Kingdom tombs, including the sealed sarcophagus of Hekashepes, a noble who lived over 4,300 years ago during the 5th or 6th Dynasty (c. 2300 B.C.)....
This head was part of a statue, carved from sandstone, of king Mentuhotep II, the unifier of Egypt, at the end of the so-called First Intermediate Period, at the end of the third millennium BC., and whose name is written on the back supporting pillar. The face is painted dark red to render the idea...
The sculpture depicts a young woman of Nubian descent, adorned with a brightly patterned skirt, a necklace, anklets, and a headband. She is believed to represent an attendant of one of the Hathor priestesses or royal wives at the court of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II. Similar figures were found in the same tomb, suggesting that they...
Nestled within the esteemed halls of The Metropolitan Museum of Art resides a resplendent artefact from Ancient Egypt: the jewellery chest of Princess Sithathoryunet. Crafted during the Middle Kingdom, specifically the 12th Dynasty (c.1887–1813 B.C.), this exquisite chest exemplifies the opulence and artistry of its era. Discovered in a concealed niche within Sithathoryunet’s tomb near...
This statuette, fashioned from an arsenical copper alloy, portrays the noblewoman and princess Sebeknakht in the intimate act of nursing her infant son. Adorned with a diadem crowned by a regal uraeus, she is gracefully depicted in a crouched position, her left arm and bent knee tenderly supporting the child as he feeds. The infant,...
This statue represents Anubis, god of mummification and the afterlife, typically depicted with a jackal head. In this piece, Anubis is shown in a traditional form, with a jackal head, standing in a protective and authoritative pose. The statue was dedicated by a high-ranking official named Padihorpakhered, whose name is inscribed on the statue. He...
This scene—featuring two cats and a mouse—likely portrays a lighthearted or symbolic interaction, showcasing how the Egyptians sometimes used humor or animal symbolism to comment on human life. A lady mouse is shown sitting elegantly, enjoying a cup of wine or drink, which is offered to her by one of the cats standing nearby. Another...
A goddess of unmatched power, grace and divine fury—Sekhmet, the lioness-headed deity was said to be born from the breath of Ra, and was both a fierce protector and relentless avenger. As one of the most ancient deities of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon, she was revered as a fierce guardian of pharaohs, a goddess of...