Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Statue of Queen Tiye

This large granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Queen Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— has quite the story and journey through history! It’s amazing how some pieces can start off in one place, but end up in a completely different location! Let’s take a closer look at this striking piece that is currently at the Vatican Museum, and follow her journey from Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to Rome!

Queen Tiye at the Vatican Museum

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 definitely resembles other works of Queen Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— – from the characteristic wig to the distinct face shape and design. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was originally Queen Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“—. Queen Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— was married to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  and possessed the title of β€œKing’s Great Wife π“‡“π“ˆžπ“,” which pretty much meant that she was his favorite wife. Queen Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ grandmother!Β 

After some time had passed, the great usurper, Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, recognized the beauty 𓄀𓆑𓂋 of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and brought it to his mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ where he had it dedicated to his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (and wife of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠), Tuya 𓏏𓅱𓇋𓄿𓁗. β€œUsurping” was a popular practice where pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ would take old statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 π“ͺ from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ and put their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ on it. Think of it as ancient plagiarism! 

Then, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 made its way out of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and to Rome! For a long time, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 adorned the β€œGardens of Sallust,” which belonged to the Emperor Caligula π“ˆπ“‹Ύπ“©π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ŽΌπ“ƒ­π“‚§π“‚‹π“° at the time. Many Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula π“ˆπ“‹Ύπ“©π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ŽΌπ“ƒ­π“‚§π“‚‹π“° and Hadrian π“‰”π“π“‚‹π“‚π“ˆ–π“Šƒπ“ˆŽπ“Šƒπ“‚‹) had pieces from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– brought to Rome to adorn their gardens π“Ž›π“Šƒπ“Šͺπ“ˆˆπ“₯ or estates. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was then re-discovered in 1714 and was brought to the Vatican Museums in 1839.