Tag: amarna

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Egyptian Artifacts

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Let’s take a closer look at these beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 beaded necklacesΒ  𓂝𓏏𓍒π“ͺ from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–!Β 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are many different styles of beads, and I just love how striking the colors are! On these necklaces 𓂝𓏏𓍒𓏦, the bright yellow beads are in the form of a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗. A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but in the later time periods also worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and certain deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. 

The reddish/brown colored beads are in the shape of a fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦! Flies 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦π“ͺ were seen as an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of protection and were possibly used to protect the wearer from insect bites. I love the fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 beads/amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦!Β 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are so many ways to say β€œnecklace” in Middle Egyptian, so let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here are some different ways to say β€œnecklace”: 

π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ broad collar 

π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace (menat)

𓃀𓏲𓃀𓏲 necklace, collar

𓂝𓏏𓍒 jewelry, necklace (with stone beads)

π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ necklace

π“ˆ™π“…±π“‹ necklace

I chose to use β€œπ“‚π“π“’β€ when writing out this description because this word (pronounced like β€œat”) is the word specifically for a necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ that has stone beads π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! I figured that was a pretty close description to the artifacts in this display! The Menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ and the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ are very specific types of necklaces and neither of them are shown in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! 

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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. 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Nefertiti’s Name and Titles in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

On this relief from the remains of the Central Palace at Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– (present day Tel el-Amarna), you can see Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€ π“„€ π“„€ π“„€Β  𓄀𓇍𓏏𓏭, and their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Meriaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“ˆ˜π“π“ praising the sun god, Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. The rays of the sun are depicted as hands giving the symbol of life, the ankh π“‹Ή, to the royal family.Β 

Nefertiti’s cartouche appears twice on this relief. Let’s look at the inscription on the left! Some of it is missing, but I am going to infer the missing pieces: 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“ˆ˜π“π“ – Meriaten (the last two symbols of her name are seen in the inscription 𓏏𓁐) (this is my guess)

π“ŒΊ – Beloved

π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“ˆ– – Born of 

π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž – King’s Great Wife 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€ π“„€ π“„€ π“„€ 𓄀𓇍𓏏𓏭 – Neferneferuaten Nefertiti

π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live! 

𓆖 – Everlasting (eternity)

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

So all together, the inscription reads: β€œMeriaten, born of the beloved King’s Great Wife Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, May she live for everlasting eternity.” 

Nefertiti’s cartouche reads β€œNeferneferuaten Nefertiti” which pretty much translates to β€œBeauty is the Beauties of Aten, the beautiful one has come.” β€œπ“„€β€ is a triliteral phonogram and translates to β€œnfr” (pronounced nefer) which means beauty or beautiful. This is actually the shorthand way to write β€œbeautiful,” and the other  way it appears in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is fully spelled out as β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹β€ – it’s still pronounced the same though as β€œπ“†‘ = f” and β€œπ“‚‹ = r.” 

Above her cartouche on the left side of the relief you can see her title β€œKing’s Great Wife” π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž – (ancient Egyptians had no word for queen). Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ also usually had multiple wives, so this title denoted the β€œfavorite” wife. 

While both of the following words – 𓆖 and π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› mean the word β€œeternity,” a lot of times they are seen together on inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! It would be silly to say β€œeternity eternity,” so Egyptologists translate this phrase as β€œπ“†–π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› Everlasting Eternity.” 

This relief is presently located at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL, London. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Trial Piece of Two Hands

For some reason, this very simple relief of two 𓏻 hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 was one of my favorite things that I saw at the Petrie Museum in London! 

Flinders Petrie was one of the main excavators at present-day Tel el-Amarna, the site of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– new capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β  Amarna as it is commonly referred to as, is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– – Horizon of the Aten,” which replaced Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– as the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β 

During excavations at Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– the workshops 𓄯𓏏𓉐𓏦 of artists were found, which contained a lot of unfinished reliefs. These “trial pieces” are though to have been made by young artists who were learning their craft. Even though this is such a simple relief of hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 with many cracks, I find it to be so beautiful π“„€. The art of the Amarna period fascinates me because it is so different stylistically from other Egyptian art! I love seeing all of the unfinished pieces that were found at Amarna – it’s kind of like getting a behind the scenes view of the art! 

A lot of reliefs in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were made on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰. From a geological perspective, limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (due to its composition of the mineral calcite 𓍱 – which comes from dead marine organisms), is a very easy rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ to sculpt and work with because calcite 𓍱 is a softer mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™. Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– used to be completely under water π“ˆ— hundreds 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of millions 𓁨𓁨𓁨 of years ago, hence why limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™) are so abundant – both of these rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ are classified as sedimentary rocks, which are primarily formed under large bodies of water π“ˆ—!

Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is composed of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 marine organisms, which I find correlates with ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as a whole – their entire life π“‹Ή/religion focused on preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and they basically built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 their civilization out of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 things! 

It’s so fascinating how geology and Egyptian history are so closely interrelated! Did you know that Petrie was a geologist and that he was the first to apply stratigraphy (studying rock layers) to the field of archaeology?! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

While this may just seem like the broken fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (and I guess it is), I love this piece at the MET because it contains the cartouches of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“—!Β 

The Amarna Period, and the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— has always fascinated me, ever since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€”. Professional Egyptologists have tried to piece together the series of events that shaped this tumultuous time period of Egyptian history, mostly by looking at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ themselves.

Fragmented statue containing the cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Let’s start at the right column, since the directional symbols point that way!

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‹Ή – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

Now on to the left column! This first part is cut off, but it’s probably a variant Nefertiti’s title of β€œKing’s Great Wife, as you can see the ending of the word β€œ great 𓅩𓂋𓏏”

π“ˆ˜π“π“†‘ – His Beloved

π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— – Nefertiti (Neferneferuaten Nefertiti)

𓋹𓏏 – May She Live/The Living

𓆖 – Everlasting/Eternal/Eternity

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The original spelling, before the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change was β€œπ“œπ“„€π“†£π“¦π“‡³π“Œ‘π“ˆ–.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph π“œ was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra).Β  Also, all of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but this one didn’t.Β 

I wonder why Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– didn’t change the throne name (π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–) to represent the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, just like how all of his other names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ were changed.Β  Nefertiti’s name also underwent a change; her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– went from just Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— to Neferneferuaten Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— around year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign. Year 5 in the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– is significant, because that is when we see most of the changes to Atenism begin to take place. Year 5 is when Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ became the supreme and only god π“ŠΉ, and the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ could not be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒.

Since this piece contains the β€œupdated” version of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– throne name and the longer version of Nefertiti’s π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, we can assume that this piece was made during or after year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Amarna Letters

The β€œAmarna Letters” is the modern designation for a group of over 300 𓏲𓏲𓏲 clay tablets that were found at Tell el-Amarna, EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β in the 1880s. Amarna as it is commonly called, is the modern name for β€œAkhetatenΒ π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–.” β€œAkhetatenΒ π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–β€ was the capital of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β during the reign π“‹Ύ of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.Β 

The β€œAmarna Letters” are written on clay tablets in cuneiform script, which was a type of Mesopotamian script! Cuneiform could be used to write many languages, but the language on the β€œAmarna Letters’” tablets is Akkadian. This is significant because it shows the reach that cuneiform/Akkadian had throughout the ancient world! Akkadian was probably the lingua franca (common language/trade language) of the time! 

Most of the letters are written from rulers outside of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, and they document diplomatic relations between these territories and EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. This particular Amarna Letter that is pictured is from Abi-milku of Tyre to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–Β .Β Abi-milku was asking EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β for protectionΒ in return for his loyalty to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Non-Royal Art from the Amarna Period

Both of these pieces may seem small, but they are quite interesting!

Both the head of a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ (left) and the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of two men and a boy (right) are non-royal art pieces from the Amarna Period. The Amarna Period refers to the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is referred to as the heretic pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because he changed the entire Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Besides the dramatic religious shift, and the move of the Egyptian capital from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to his new capital (aptly named β€œAkhenaten”), one thing that made the Amarna period quite different was the shift in the art style. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and the royal family were always depicted strangely compared to past Egyptian art styles. Many think this could be due to a genetic connective tissue disease than ran through the family. However, these two 𓏻 pieces show that even the non-royals were also depicted in what is now considered to be typical Amarna style art. Amarna art usually shows people with long limbs, strangely shaped heads, and prominent bellies.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of a Statue of Akhenaten

My Nonno and Nonna took my sister and I to the Brooklyn Museum for the first time over 15 π“Ž†π“Ύ years ago – one of the things I loved most about it was the beautiful collection of artifacts from the Amarna Period – aka the rule of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

This piece is a fragment of a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Although the cartouches have been β€œerased,” stylistically, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is obviously of him due to the way the chest is carved.

Petrie is credited with finding this – he found 17 π“Ž†π“€ partial statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ during his excavation of the city in the 1890s. He also found tons of statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that seemed to be purposefully smashed. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ were definitely unpopular due to not only moving Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– capital but also because they changed the religion from polytheistic to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. This mass destruction of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ showed that the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ wanted to erase Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Wilbour Plaque

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces and I was so excited to see it again in person at the Brooklyn Museum after so long!

After Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because of just how different/bizarre his rule was compared to everything/everyone else. The Brooklyn Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule!

The top piece in the display is known as the Wilbour Plaque, after Charles Wilbour who acquired it in 1881. The plaque is interesting because it is complete as is it was never part of a larger scene and was most like used as a model for sculptors. While there aren’t any inscriptions to confirm this, it is assumed that the people represented here are Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­. However, some argue that the person accompanying Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– in the image could either be Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ or Smenkare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£.

To me this piece is interesting because the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ is no where in sight! Usually Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is always accompanied by an image of the sun 𓇳𓏺/Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ with sun rays shining on him. It’s almost kinda weird to see him like this!

The second piece in the display is another sculptor’s model!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Reliefs from Amarna – featuring Nefertiti!

This is a painted limestone sunken relief of Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­.

Relief of Nefertiti at the Brooklyn Museum

Even though her name does not appear on the relief, thanks to the uniqueness of the Amarna art style, it can be easy to tell who is who in the art. The headdress that Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ is wearing in this relief is the same headdress that the famous Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ bust in Berlin wears! You can also see the phrase β€œ 𓏙𓋹” which means β€œgiven life” above her head. The rest of the inscription cannot be read.

The second relief is a raised relief and it was once part of a larger image. It shows feet in sandals! The description from the museum says it’s from an unidentified woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or queen π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž. This could be Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­, or one of her and Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– daughters.

Feet In Sandals relief at the Brooklyn Museum

The third piece is a bust. According to the museum, scholars used to think this was a bust of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Smenkhare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£, or Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“. However, more recently, it is thought to show Ankhesenpaaten, the second daughter of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­. Ankhesenpaaten was the wife/queen π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ and during his rule changed her name to Ankhesenamun to reflect the switch back to the old religion. The name Ankhesenamun means β€œshe who lives through Amun.”

Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ also went through a name change when he switched Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– religion back – his original name was Tutankhaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“‡³!