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Egyptian Artifacts

“Small Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut”

Nicole (me) with Hatshepsut!

Here I am with a small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© β€œKneeling Statue of Hatshepsut.” This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is in the β€œHatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Room” at the MET – aka Gallery 115, which is my absolute favorite room in any museum I have ever been to! I love the details on this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ – especially the black π“†Žπ“…“ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 around the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦!

Small State of Hatshepsut that shows the painted details around the eyes

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is made out of black/pink granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ (also called red granite by geologists)! The black π“†Žπ“…“ and pink granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ is traditionally found in Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– (Upper Egypt 𓇓). In the USA, black π“†Žπ“…“ and pink granite is commonly found in Nevada and other western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 states!

While not as grand as some of her other statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that adorned her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, this one makes quite an impression. There are at least eight of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and many of them are in the MET. They were most likely used to line the upper court at her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, and are thought to be intended for her Heb Sed festival (a festival used to celebrate 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years of rule, and then celebrated every three 𓏼 years after the initial 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†). Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, ever the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to break from tradition, instead celebrated hers in the 16th π“Ž†π“Ώ year of her rule!

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is kneeling and is seen holding the nemset jar π“Œ. The jar π“Œ has the djed pillar π“Š½ adorning the front. The djed pillar π“Š½ is thought to be the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, and it represents stability and endurance – both are attributes a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 needed in order to be a successful ruler π“‹Ύ!