This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 “Relief of a Nobleman” on display at the Brooklyn Museum is a beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and detailed example of a sunken relief! Sunken relief is defined as art that is carved directly into the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙, and it is below the rock face.
This piece is dated to the 19-20th Dynasties (c. 1295-1070 B.C.E.). According to the information from the Brooklyn Museum, the original location of the relief (and the rest of it) is unknown, however, based off the intricacy of the artistry, Egyptologists believe it was possibly originally from a Ramesside-era tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (modern-day Saqqara).
While this was carved way after the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (and his artistic revolution), some remnants of Amarna-era inspiration remain. For example, the fact that the face is more rounded than flat is Amarna-inspired, as well as the deep carving into the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 near the back of the head as compared to the face. This creates a really cool dimension, and was really first seen in the Amarna-era!
The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 that this man is wearing is intricately carved, and I feel like every little detail is seen! The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 almost looks real! My favorite aspect is the headband with the lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 on it!
On the left side of the relief, a hand 𓂝𓏺 is holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 and a flower 𓆼𓅱𓆰. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually appears on the stem of the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, right below the “rattles.” The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had a big connection with music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, and sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 appeared in art (and as actual artifacts) often.
Music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 is something I love and cannot live without. I think it’s fascinating that a love of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 is something that has not changed in thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years or across civilizations/cultures. I love that I share that connection with ancient Egyptian culture!
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