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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

This is one of the grand, large kneeling statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ that were found during excavations of her temple at Deir el-Bahri. The excavations were a joint operation between the MET and the Egyptian government.

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes headcloth, a false beard on her chin, and is kneeling with a nemset jar π“Œ in each hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺. These were meant to be offerings to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–- an inscription on the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ states that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is offering “maat” to Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–- while Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ was the goddess of truth, “maat” was also a concept held dearly by Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ. Her reign was guided by order, truth, and justice – all the principles of maat.

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is seen kneeling, which is not too common for a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 since they were considered to be gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. However, since Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, she did this in a kneeling position. A pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 kneeled for no one – except for another god π“ŠΉ.

From this angle, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ looks even more grand! I also love pink granite, which many of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are made out of. Granite is an extremely dense and durable rock (hence why it is used for countertops today), and these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ were definitely built to last.

The image above is of the cartouches of Hatshepsut’s throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓.