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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

The love story of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— is one that definitely captures the attention of Egyptologists and non-Egyptologists alike! I have always been fascinated by these two 𓏻 and I was so excited to see this painted limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the two 𓏻 of them at the Louvre! It was one of my must-see pieces! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 reminds me of the popular β€œcouples statues” that were prominent in burials during the Old Kingdom! β€œCouple Statues” depict a husband and wife sitting together! 

Akhenaten and Nefertiti
Limestone statue depicting Nefertiti and Akhenaten

Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— was the β€œGreat Royal Wife π“‡“π“π“ˆžπ“π“…¨β€ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. This statue depicts Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— (left) and Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– (right) holding hands and walking forward. We know they are walking forward because one foot is placed in front of the other in a striding position. I also love the detail of the sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸π“ͺ on their feet! They are also both wearing broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦, the necklace π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ of choice for royals and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is also wearing the blue Khepresh crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ on his head, while Nefertiti appears to be wearing what looks like the red crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”, but there is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on it! The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is still present on the front of both crowns!Β 

What was the purpose of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾? This came from a private home, where it was used in a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“—. The common people would worship Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— because they were thought to be manifestations 𓆣𓆣𓆣 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ here on Earth. 

The typical Amarna-style (elongated faces and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) is present here, which makes it very easy to identify these figures as Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— and Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The Amarna art revolution is so interesting because Egyptian art didn’t change much until Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule, then there was this drastic change, and then once Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– died, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ reverted back to the traditional art style and it stated that way for the rest of the civilization.