New Kingdom

Statue of Intendant Hapy as a scribe

Statue of Intendant Hapy as a scribe

Statue of Intendant and Administrator of the Temple of Amun, Hapy, reading from a papyrus roll. The scribe’s job was one of the most important in ancient Egypt, for he was the representative of culture, science, knowledge, and literature. In this regard, scribes are considered the main founders of its civilization. The scribe’s role was...

Egyptians in battle against the Nubians

Egyptians in battle against the Nubians

The wooden chest found in Tutankhamun’s antechamber is a striking testament to the young pharaoh’s warrior image. Across its painted surfaces, Tutankhamun is portrayed in full martial splendour, crowned with the blue khepresh crown of war, standing proudly in his chariot, bow drawn and arrows ready, galloping across the battlefield as his richly attired horses...

Pyramidion of Amenhotep (Huy)

Pyramidion of Amenhotep (Huy)

Pyramidion of the royal scribe Amenhotep Huy during the reign of Ramesses II, 1279-1213 BC. From Saqqara necropolis. True pyramids (at least the larger ones), as opposed to step pyramids in Egypt were topped by a special stone called a pyramidion, or sometimes a capstone, which was itself a miniature pyramid. It brought the pyramid...

Female dancer from Deir el-Medina

Female dancer from Deir el-Medina

This limestone ostracon was discovered in the famous Workers Village of Deir el-Medina. Dating from approximately, 1292–1076 B.C., this piece was created within the 19th or 20th Dynasty. Deir el-Medina (Set Ma’at) was a workman’s village, which was state commissioned and owned. The artisans and architects who would design and build the tombs of the...

Shrine of Maatmenraemheb and his wife Urtnefret

Shrine of Maatmenraemheb and his wife Urtnefret

Discovered in Abydos, this shrine depicting Maatmenraemheb with his wife Urtnefret, shows the couple depicted within an arched niche. Carved from a block of limestone, the sides of the shrine’s exterior are decorated with sunken relief images of the couple’s family and hieroglyphs. The shrine was originally erected in front of a large granite stele...

Painted quartzite head of Seti II

Painted quartzite head of Seti II

This quartzite head of king Seti II, was a part of a statue within the Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun at Karnak, the body of the statue remains in its original location. Seti II (or Sethos II) was the fifth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt and reigned from c. 1203 BC...

Talatat of Kiya usurped by Meritaten

Kiya usurped by Meritaten

This limestone talatat shows a depiction of Queen Kiya, secondary wife of Akhenaten, making an offering of a cone of scented fat to the Aten. It is believed, however, that this piece was later reused and usurped to actually depict Akhenaten’s daughter, with his Great Royal Wife Nefertiti, Meritaten. The reason for this belief is...

Nefertiti smiting - talatat. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 63.260

Nefertiti smiting

These talatats (stone fragments) show an Amarna Period scene of Nefertiti within a kiosk upon a royal barge smiting an enemy of Egypt. Usually this pose would be reserved for the king alone, however, as we can see, Nefertiti is clearly depicted in such a position, representing her status at the time of this images’...

Stelа of the Royal Scribe Ipy

Stela of the Royal Scribe Ipy

This stela of Ipy, who held the titles “fan-bearer on the right hand [of the king]”, “royal scribe”, and “great overseer of the royal household”, carries a depiction of its owner making offering to Anubis, the embalmer deity, who is seated at the offering table. The introduction of this subject is an extremely important characteristic...