Sculpture

Wife of Mentuhotep II

This upper part of a painted limestone statue depicting a woman in an elaborate wig, linen white dress, and honey yellow skin was discovered at Deir el-Bahari, within the remnants of the Temple of Mentuhotep II. It is more than likely she was a wife of the king. King Mentuhotep II is attributed with reunifying...

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

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...

Statue of Senenmut holding Neferure, daughter of Queen 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...

Thutmose usurped by Ramesside family

This red granite statue of a king wearing the White Crown (Hedjet), was originally from Karnak, and has been recarved with the cartouches (namesake in rectangular-oval casing) of king Ramesses II and his son, the king Merenptah. It is believed this statue originally dates from the 18th Dynasty, and based upon the face and style,...

Prince Ankhhaf. Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition. 27.442

Bust of Prince Ankhhaf

Prince Ankhhaf was the son of an Old Kingdom king, most probably king Sneferu, making Ankhhaf the brother of king Khufu. This bust made of a limestone core and painted plastered covering was discovered within the Mastaba of Ankhhaf, at the Great Eastern Cemetery in Giza. It dates from approximately, 2520–2494 B.C. It is thought...

Middle Kingdom Cat. Met Museum. 1990.59.1

Middle Kingdom Cat

This is a vessel in the shape of a cat that dates from early in the 12th Dynasty of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, 1990–1900 B.C. Made from Egyptian alabaster, the cat is sculpted beautifully and inlaid eyes of rock-crystal, lined with copper bring an eerie sense of realism to this piece. The form of the cat...

Head of King Djedefre

Head of King Djedefre

The son of King Khufu ruled Egypt for 8 years and built his pyramid in Abu Rawash area in the north of Giza. His name was written inside a royal cartouche and was the first king to take the title of ‘Son of Re’ that is first attested under Djedefre. Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c....

Maya & Merit

Maya was a high ranking official, with titles such as, “Overseer of the Treasury“, who lived towards the end of the 18th Dynasty. With the collapse of the Amarna Period (Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s Aten experiment purposely dissolved), Maya was an important figure who held special status during the reigns of Tutankhamun (it is said Maya...

Sphinx Head of King Amenhotep II

Sphinx Head of Amenhotep II

A detail of Sphinx Head of King Amenhotep II. Amenhotep II (sometimes called Amenophis II and meaning ‘Amun is Satisfied’) was the seventh king of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. Amenhotep inherited a vast kingdom from his father Thutmose III, and held it by means of a few military campaigns in Syria; however, he fought...

Statue of the protective goddess Meretseger

Statue of the protective goddess Meretseger

This statue represents goddess Meretseger, one of the protective goddesses that were found in the tomb of king Amenhotep II (KV35) in the Valley of the Kings. They were responsible for protecting the body of the king in his afterlife journey. It represents Meretseger in the form of the winged cobra. Meretseger, a cobra goddess...