Tag: amenhotep iii

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III

ThisΒ blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β is in exquisite condition.

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III at the MET

This piece is possibly from the model of a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, but its function isn’t actually known. Despite its small size, the sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β is definitely a standout in Gallery 119 at the MET!

A sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is the combination of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› (the body) and a human (the head 𓁢𓏺).  Sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ with the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— on the forehead. He also has a false beard in his chin. This is a very typical way for a pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to be depicted in statuary because this style represented the power and royalty of the pharaoh π“‰π“‰». 

The hands of the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, but there is no inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– to say which god π“ŠΉ/goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to.  

This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty – New Kingdom (c. 1390–1352 B.C.E.). 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†! Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule π“‹Ύ was a time of prosperity for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and plaster are not. 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in the cartouche: 

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra) 

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œπ“§ goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like β€œMaat.”

The β€œπ“Ž  basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of β€œnb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the word β€œLord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche. 

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Amenhotep III

Fun fact: more statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  have survived than any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ! Amenhotep the III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, who was originally named Amenhotep IV, until he changed his name to reflect the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Statue of Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first thing that struck me was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly. This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting!

The statuette is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  sed festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production. The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.

Statue of Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Realistic Lion Statue of Amenhotep III or IV

This lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was originally meant to represent the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž . The Egyptians believed that lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ represented strength and might, which is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be represented as lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ (and why the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was so popular). While being represented as a sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was considered the β€œnormal” in Egyptian art, being represented as a full lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› was very rare. Also, sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are usually represented in a β€œhead-on” type style, while this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ represents the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ in a more realistic fashion.

To me, this piece showcases the incredible skills that Egyptian artists possessed – not only could they make idealized/traditional statues like sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦, but they were also masters at making realistic statues too.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ has gone through many changes and was recycled by many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! It was originally made for Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž , however, an inscription was added to the chest by Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ (better known as Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change).

The inscription reads β€œLion of rulers, wild when he sees his enemies tread his path.” The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows a close up of this inscription, however it is hard to read – I got some help from the British Museum website for the translation because when hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are faded, especially when looking at them from my photographs, they can be extremely difficult for me to read!