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Egyptian Artifacts

Non-Royal Art from the Amarna Period

Both of these pieces may seem small, but they are quite interesting!

Both the head of a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ (left) and the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of two men and a boy (right) are non-royal art pieces from the Amarna Period. The Amarna Period refers to the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is referred to as the heretic pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because he changed the entire Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Besides the dramatic religious shift, and the move of the Egyptian capital from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to his new capital (aptly named β€œAkhenaten”), one thing that made the Amarna period quite different was the shift in the art style. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and the royal family were always depicted strangely compared to past Egyptian art styles. Many think this could be due to a genetic connective tissue disease than ran through the family. However, these two 𓏻 pieces show that even the non-royals were also depicted in what is now considered to be typical Amarna style art. Amarna art usually shows people with long limbs, strangely shaped heads, and prominent bellies.