New Kingdom

Solid gold statuette of the god Amun.

Gold statue of the god Amun

This is a solid gold statue of the god Amun (imn) and is truly one of a kind. As a pure gold figure of the god, this figure is an example of those golden figures of gods and goddesses that would have been the centrepiece of prayers and rituals within the temples throughout the age...

Red Jasper or Porphyry head of Akhenaten

Jasper head of Akhenaten

This head of Akhenaten is similar to portraits of the king that we believe come from early in his reign. The less exaggerated features of the soon-to-be “Amarna Period”, this serene, slight smile of the young king looks ahead, as he wears the blue “khepresh” crown of war. The uraeus would have been present but...

Relief of Scribes at work

Relief of Scribes at work

A fragment of a wall relief showing scribes intent on writing, probably under dictation, holding their tablets in their left hand and their pens in their right. The relief was part of a more elaborate composition from the memphite tomb of Horemheb at Saqqara. This limestone relief with traces of painting from the Saqqara tomb...

Bust of a Priestess of Hathor

Bust of a Priestess of Hathor

This bust is just a fragment of a statue of a Priestess of Hathor from the New Kingdom in Egypt. The priestess served the Egyptian cow goddess Hathor who unlike many other gods and goddesses had both male and female servants. Egyptian priests were meant to serve the gods and with this responsibility many of...

Family statue of a man called Wah-Ib "Jeweller of Amun", wife Teri. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. INV 9233

Family statue of a man called Wah-Ib “Jeweller of Amun”, wife Teri

This family portrait comes from the reign of Amenhotep III. The artistic style of the piece is reminiscent of other pieces from the Late 18th Dynasty era, in which after a lustrous and inspiring reign, Amenhotep III’s lineage took hold with Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), leading to the eventual collapse of the 18th Dynasty’s Golden Age...

Akhenaten Ushabti. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. INV 10166

Akhenaten Ushabti

Ushabti of king Akhenaten from Amarna (ancient Akhetaten – Akhenaten’s experimental ‘new capital’ that was dismantled upon his death. A Ushabti was a figurine representing the deceased that would help with duties in the Afterlife. A Ushabti (Egyptian: wšbtj or šwbtj) was a funerary figure in the form of the likeness of the deceased, and...

Face from a coffin. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Egyptian - Oriental Collection Inv. No. INV 917

Face from a coffin

This face from a coffin is made of wood and paint still remains. The face has a slight soft smile. It dates from the New Kingdom Period’s 18th Dynasty (c.1300-1400 B.C.), and is currently under the ownership of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, in Vienna, Austria. The mummies of the ancient Egyptian elite were placed into wooden...

Ramesside head of a Noble Woman

Ramesside head of a Noble Woman

This beautifully painted limestone head of a woman came from a tomb chapel niche dating from the Ramesside era, c. 1250–1070 B.C., 19th-20th Dynasty. Not a singular statue, this Noblewoman would have been accompanying her husband, this statue would have represented the pair at their best; see her elaborate wig, lotus adorned headband and perfect...

Ostracon with fighting bulls

Ostracon with fighting bulls

This ostracon is a dynamic depiction of two fighting bulls. The powerful motion is portrayed through their bodies, with the back legs of the charging bull pushing forward and head lowered to topple the other bull with its horns. Note the artist’s skillful use of color and pattering to add detail. Ostraca (plural for ostracon)...

Statue of Senenmut holding Neferure, daughter of Hatshepsut

Statue of Senenmut holding Neferure

This standing statue of Senenmut holding Princess Neferure, daughter of Queen Hatshepsut, seems to be unique. Most of us are familiar with the block and seated (tutor) statues of Senenmut and Neferure. The statue was found in Karnak and was a gift from the Queen. The inscriptions are given in detail in breasted ancient records...