Necklace of Ahhotep I

This golden flies once belonged to Queen Ahhotep I, given as awards for valor in battle. Second Intermediate Period, 17th Dynasty, ca. 1580-1550 BC. Found in her tomb at Dra’ Abu el-Naga’, West Thebes. Now in the Luxor Museum.

Ramesses II Smiting his Enemies

 This block is decorated with a traditional scene representing King Ramesses II massacring his enemies. He wears a complete, elegant costume; the Blue Crown adorned with the uraeus, the collar called usekh, an elaborate garment, two armlets, two bracelets and sandals.

He holds, in his left hand, three prisoners by their hair while in his right hand he holds an axe with which he is about to strike them. The facial features, the hairstyle and the beards of the enemies indicate that they belong to three different peoples: the Nubians, the Libyans and the Asiatics.

New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses II. From Memphis. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. 

Statue of Princess Nofret

 Detail from group statue portraying prince Rahotep and princess Nofret. Rahotep’s wife, Nofret, is described as “the one acquainted to the king.” She is seen wearing a shoulder-length wig, decorated with a floral diadem and a broad collar. Her natural hair can be seen under the wig.

Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Akhenaten Sacrificing Duck to Aten

 On this block from a temple relief, Akhenaten, recognizable by his elongated features, holds a duck toward the Aten. With one hand he wrings the bird’s neck before offering it to the god. In this relief, the artist has cut the outlines of the figures into the surface in a technique called sunk relief. Sunk relief appears mostly on the exterior of buildings, where the outlines cast shadows, emphasizing the sunlight. During the Amarna period almost all relief was executed in this technique.

 Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Lid of canopic jar possibly for Kiya, secondary wife of Akhenaten

 The canopic jars is used to store organs after mummification, it was believed, would be needed in the afterlife. This canopic jar is one of four found in the mysterious Tomb KV55 in the Valley of the Kings, it is possible that it was originally made for Meritaten, Akhenaten’s daughter, who may have married the enigmatic King Smenkhkare, though many now assign it to Kiya, or even Smenkhkare himself.

Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Dagger of Princess Ita

 In the tomb of Princess Ita, daughter of Amenemhat II, this dagger was found in her coffin, together with a collection of jewels that included bracelets, anklets a necklace, and the remains of a belt.

Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Pendant with the Name of King Osorkon II

This extremely precious solid gold and lapis lazuli item of jewelry - a true masterpiece of antique goldsmith - represents the holy triad of the Osiris family. Despite the presence of the god of death, this piece was more a temple treasure than a funerary jewel.Now in the Louvre.

Funerary Stele of Nit-Ptah

 The stela depicts four members of the same family: two males alternating with two females to create a pleasing chromatic contrast as a result of the different colors of their skins. Men were painted in ochre and women in light cream wash.

Middle Kingdom, ca. 2050-1710 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Amulet of a Papyrus Column

This amulet, meant to be worn, carried, or offered to a deity in the belief that it will magically bestow a particular power or form of protection, depicts a papyrus scepter or column. The plant itself, its Egyptian name wadj (which means “green” or “fresh”). 

Third Intermediate Period, 21th to 25th Dynasty, ca. 1070-656 BC. Now in the Art Institute, University of Chicago.