Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light”

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light” at the MET

I absolutely love this piece and I have been very excited to write about it! The relief that I am highlighting is part of a larger display at the MET called β€œThe Two Lands are in a Festival of Light,” and they were originally from the palace π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“‰π“Ί walls at Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. 

Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is obviously my first favorite) and I love to see statues, reliefs, or anything from the Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– Period! I find everything to do with Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– so interesting because he was the β€œtroublemaker” pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who completely changed everything about the Egyptian religion (polytheistic to monotheistic), moved the capital to Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–, and generally was very much disliked by the Egyptian people π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ.Β 

On this relief, we can see a large boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž on the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. At the front of the boat is a central structure that houses Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ and one of the princesses (who is very small and difficult to see). Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– can be seen striking down an enemy. The Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ is shining above Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and sending light rays down to him.Β 

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light” at the MET – closeup of Akhenaten (right) and Nefertiti (left)

Since these were on the palace π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“‰π“Ί walls, it makes sense that Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– would want himself portrayed as very strong and striking down enemies. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is usually always depicted with his family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦, so enemy smiting was clearly a royal family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 affair! The depiction of the royal family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 from this time period is fascinating because usually pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were depicted alone, however in reliefs, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­, and the princesses are always shown together π“ˆ–π“Š—.Β 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut

Nicole with the white limestone statue of Hatshepsut at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite Egyptian Pharaoh π“‰π“‰»! Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ as not only the most successful female pharaoh π“‰π“‰», but in my opinion, is one of the most successful pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ in all of Egyptian history. She ruled for 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years, commissioned many building projects (her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐 being the most magnificent) and sent an expedition to the land of Punt  π“Šͺπ“ƒΊπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆ‰ . 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is her given name and means β€œForemost of the Noble Women.” Her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is Maatkare π“‡³π“¦π“‚“ which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” Most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had five 𓏾 names, but the given name and throne name are the most popular to find in inscriptions! 

Ever since my Nonno told me that a woman once ruled π“‹Ύ Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, I have been obsessed with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!