Tag: akhenaten

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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

Bust of Akhenaten at the Louvre

Let’s take another look at an Amarna Period piece! This is a limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰Β bust of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–Β that is currently in the Louvre! While you all know HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–Β is my second favorite! I always refer to AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–Β as β€œmy favorite disaster” because I think that is quite the succinct way to describe his 17 π“Ž†π“€ year rule π“‹Ύ of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!Β 

While it can’t be seen in my pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦, some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still preserved on the bust! One of the places that still has traces of paint is the Blue Crown (Khepresh)Β π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™Β that AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–Β is wearing. Also, the ears and back of the neck still have traces of paint.Β 

The Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— is missing from the front of the Blue Crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™, and it was probably lost in antiquity. The Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— symbolizes divine authority, royalty, supremacy, and also acted as protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the pharaoh π“‰π“‰». Fun Fact: no example of the Blue Crown (Khepresh) π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ has been found by archaeologists! 

The artistic style during Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule π“‹Ύ was very different than the traditional Egyptian art styles, which makes pieces like this bust so weird and wonderful in their own way! I will never get tired of studying Amarna art!Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Ivory Chair of Akhenaten

This tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 ivory chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± probably held a tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ at one point! This chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is only about 5cm in height so it is very tiny! The amount of detail that the artist was able to carve into such a small piece is incredible! 

On the back of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†±, Akhenaten’s nomen (birth name) and prenomen (throne name) are carved underneath the rays of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–𓇳. Let’s break down the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦! 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– – Akhenaten β€œLiving Spirit of the Aten” – this is his β€œbirth name” – though not really because Akhenaten changed his name to Akhenaten from Amenhotep IVΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€!Β 

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ– – Neferkheperrua β€œThe Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra” is the throne name, which was probably taken when he was still calling himself Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύ, since the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– contains β€œRa 𓇳” and not β€œAten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–𓇳.” 

𓋍 – this symbol on the back of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is a combination of many different things! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯. The lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe π“„₯ was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆀. Just like how the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯ need to work together in order for a person to survive, Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt needed to be unified in order for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to be a strong country!

The lung π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and windpipe π“„₯ design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The three 𓏼 men π“Šƒπ“€€π“¦ on the side of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± represent foreigners – a Libyan, an Asiatic, and a Nubian all of which are kneeling and raising their arms in a worshipping π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ stance. 

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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!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of an “Amarna King”

The Amarna Period and Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 has always fascinated me. All of the radical changes that were made – such as changing the religion from polytheistic to the monotheistic worship of Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, to moving the capital, to the changes in the art – it must have been quite crazy during those years!

This is actually one of my favorite pieces in the Brooklyn Museum – the Museum has the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ labeled as β€œAmarna King” but to me it’s clear that this piece represents Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. He is represented in typical Amarna art style here: distended belly/large hips, very long arms, narrow neck and angular face. It is not known whether these are exaggerated features, or if the art was meant to be a more realistic representation of what the royal family looked like. Usually Egyptian art depicted people at their finest, with idealized features rather than realistic ones.

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is wearing the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown with the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 preserved at the front, a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ necklace and a skirt. While this limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue’s π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ paint is preserved beautifully the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ that is seen is actually gold leaf and not paint!

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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!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Abydos Kings List and the Missing Pharaohs

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List. There are two surviving King Lists from temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. One temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos, while Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Smenkhare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– should be!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were considered gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Limestone Stela of Akhenaten

Here’s another piece from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology! This is a small limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– (by small, I mean it is only about 8.5cm in height)!

While the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is very crudely drawn, it is quite obvious that we are looking at Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– here because art during the period of his rule was incredibly unique! On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– can be seen standing in front of two 𓏻 vases of incense with his arms raised in a worshipping position. The Sun 𓇳𓏺, or the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, can be seen above Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– head 𓁢𓏺.

The Petrie Museum has a lot of unique pieces from Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign because Petrie helped to excavate Amarna, which the place in modern-day Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– where Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– moved the capital to (the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was originally in Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–). The new capital was called Akhetaton β€œHorizon of the Aten” and it was established ~1332 B.C.E., around the time when the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ was declared to be the only god π“ŠΉ.

One of the reasons I enjoyed my trip to the Petrie Museum so much was being able to see all of these unique pieces that really can’t be seen in other museums! Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, so I really enjoyed seeing all of the Amarna-era pieces!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Fragment of Akhenaten

There are so many cool pieces in the Petrie Museum – while the pieces may not be as big or grand as the ones in the MET, Louvre, or British Museums, they are significant because they give a glimpse into the more subtle greatnesses in Egyptian society. Actually though, the β€œsister piece” to this one is actually in the MET!

This piece of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (dated c. 1353–1336 B.C.E.) is what is known as a β€œtrial piece” – basically it was practice for the artist/sculptor before they made the real thing! This was found in the sculptor’s workshop at Amarna (in the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 part of the city). While Tell el-Amarna is the modem name for the area, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– named his new capital β€œAkhetaton” or β€œHorizon of the Aten” – the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was originally Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– before the big move.

Petrie spent a lot of time excavating that part of the city during his time there from 1891-1892. Most of what we initially learned about the city and it’s architecture came from Petrie’s excavations. Fun Fact: Howard Carter assisted Petrie on these digs!

The piece unmistakably depicts Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. It is very easy to tell when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is being shown because of his very distinct facial features (pointed chin, long neck/face). It would also make sense that most of the artwork that was found at the sculptors workshop in his capital would contain art that depicted him, Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­, the royal family, and the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.