Middle Kingdom

Relief of King Senusret III

This decorative lintel relief with hieroglyphs identify king Senusret III wearing the crown of Lower Egypt (left) and the crown of Upper Egypt (right) during the Heb Sed. Horus and Seth on standards give million years of life to the king. Sed festivals were jubilees celebrated after a ruler had held the throne for thirty...

Ka Statue of King Hor Awibre

Ka Statue of King Hor

This wooden Ka statue with rock-crystal quartz eyes was excavated in 1894 in the tomb of king Hor Awibre or Hor I that was found by a team of excavators under the direction of the archaeologist Jacques de Morgan. His tomb is located north of the pyramid complex of Amenemhat III at Dahshur. The wooden...

Model of a Carpentry Workshop

Model of a Carpentry Workshop

This model from Meketre’s funerary furniture shows some carpenters in their carpentry workshop. They are busy with woodworking of various kinds. One carpenter in the middle is sawing a piece of wood while other workmen are working around the sides holding hoes. A carpenter sits in the middle of the scene and uses a mallet...

Gold Jewelry of Princess Khenmet

Jewelry of Princess Khenmet

These items of jewelry belonging to Princess Khenmet are made with the decorative cloisonné technique of applied gold threads and tiny beads that was very popular outside Egypt, particularly in Syria and the area of the Aegean. The first chain has a pendant of a spotted heifer in a round border in blue enamel. This...

Detail of the dagger of Princess Ita

Dagger of Princess Ita

In the tomb of Princess Ita, daughter of Amenemhat II, this dagger was found in her coffin, together with a collection of jewels that included bracelets, anklets, a necklace, and the remains of a belt. The pommel is in the shape of a light crescent of lapis lazuli. The hilt is beaten gold and is...

Golden Uraeus of Senusret II

Uraeus of Senusret II

The golden uraeus of Senusret II was discovered by Flinders Petrie in 1920 during his excavations around the Pyramid of Senusret II at Lahun. This piece of jewelry was thus likely part of a headdress or crown. The rearing cobra, known as a uraeus, was a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, deity and divine authority in...