New Kingdom

Tutankhamun’s Daughters

Within the Tutankhamun’s tomb, two mummified foetuses were discovered. Known as Mummies 317a and 317b, the female mummies were buried with no namesake alongside their father, and are simply referred to as “Osiris” on their coffins The foetus known as 317a was born prematurely at approximately 5–6 months of gestation. With C.T. scans estimating her...

Severed hands of war

The Egyptian military estimated the number of those killed in front of the king soon after combat ended by displaying the severed hands of the deceased enemy. This was all but a theory based upon ancient reliefs until 2012 when archaeologists excavating at the modern site of Avaris, Tell el-Daba, unearthed 16 human right hands...

Kneeling Hatshepsut

High upon the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s magnificent mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari lies the central sanctuary, consecrated to the mighty god Amun-Re. His principal cult centre stood grandly across the shimmering Nile at Karnak, on the sun-drenched eastern bank. Each year, in a spectacle both sacred and splendid, Amun-Re’s divine image would make a...

Bald One of Hathor

Among the many sculptural treasures of Ancient Egypt, few are as quietly evocative as the statues known as the “Bald One of Hathor”. These figures, though not divine themselves, were profoundly entwined with the sacred world of temple ritual and devotion. Most often depicted as shaven-headed men in attitudes of piety or offering, they represent...

Amenhotep III wearing the Blue Crown

This commanding sculptural fragment represents the head of Amenhotep III, one of the most powerful and influential rulers of Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. Now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, this piece is a testament to the refined craftsmanship and royal iconography of the New Kingdom period. The pharaoh is shown wearing...

Inherkhau & his family

Inherkhau was the ‘Foreman of the Lord of the Two Lands in the Place of Truth’ during the reigns of Ramesses III and Ramesses IV, c. 1186–1149 B.C. In this scene, depicted upon one of the walls of his tomb (TT359), we behold Inherkhau seated alongside his wife and four children, receiving offerings in tribute....

Coffins of Butehamun

Butehamun was a distinguished scribe who was born and raised in the Deir el-Medina region, and resided in Medinet Habu, living during the reign of Ramesses XI, he died in Third Intermediate Period. Born into a lineage of scribes, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Thutmose, embracing a life devoted to the written...

Ipuy

Ipuy was a sculptor and artist who worked during the reign of Ramesses II. His tomb (TT217) is located on the upper terrace of the western cemetery at Deir el-Medina, which was the burial site for the workers, craftsmen, and officials who lived in the Worker’s Village of Deir el-Medina. The Egyptian artistic profession, particularly...

Ostracon of a young king

Ostracon of a young king wearing the blue crown

This ostracon is a remarkable piece of ancient Egyptian art, and it is often recognized for its portrayal of a young king, which provides a rare and valuable glimpse into royal iconography during the 20th Dynasty (around 1150 BC). Like many ostraca, this one is made of limestone, which was a common material used by...

Goddess Hathor offers Menat necklace to Seti I

Goddess Hathor offers Menat necklace to Seti I

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...