sábado, 19 de septiembre de 2015

Thebes: bronze statue: UC 36443

Thebes: bronze statue: UC 36443

Bronze statuette of cat headed goddess. An inscription goes around all four sides of base and in front above, where the cartouche of God's Wife of Amun, Ankhnesneferibre, appears. The statue is donated by a private person.

 http://www.ucl.ac.uk/

TT31, the tomb of Khonsu , also called To (or Ta) .

TT31, the tomb of Khonsu , also called To (or Ta) .



At the front, left, is Khonsu, who wears the panther skin (as a rule, an attribute of a sem-priest) over his tunic with sleeves. Frequently this is also described as a leopard skin, but in these pages 'panther' will be used. He has his two arms raised, palms forwards, in worship. Above, is the remains of the text of a solar hymn: "[An adoration of Re] when he arises on the eastern horizon... [by the high-]priest of the lord [of the Two Lands] Men[kheperre] (Thutmosis III), Khonsu, born of the mistress of the house, Tauseret."
• Standing behind Khonsu is "His mother, the chantress of Montu, Tauseret". She wears a long wig whose locks are fastened by a ribbon below the ear and on top of the wig is the customary Theban ointment cone, which takes here the shape of a shell. This is supposed to represent a cone of perfumed grease trickling into the hair and onto the dress, caused by the heat, its material reality is put in doubt and numerous people think than it represents a metaphor to designate perfumes in general. Two lotus flowers, one open, the other closed in button form, complete the symbolic group evoking being in the body of Nut-Hathor, the Theban mountain, at night and returning to the world in the morning. Tauseret wears a large necklace and bracelets on her forearms and also her wrists. With the left hand, she waves two stems of papyrus (?) which surround a Hathoric sistrum, supposed to attract the goddess Hathor by the noise of the rattle which it produces when it is shaken. In her other hand, she holds the counterweight of a Menat necklace, equally related to Hathor.
• The following character, of smaller waist, is "His son, head of the stable, Usermont living anew". He wears a wig which reaches his shoulders, a loincloth, but no upper garment. He holds in one hand two birds (probably ducks) by their wings. The duck was, in the Egyptian symbolism, related to sexuality and rebirth. He is followed by Mutia, the second wife of Khonsu. It can be seen that this one is represented distinctly smaller than his stepmother. Here, as elsewhere in the tomb, the deceased's mother always has precedence over the wives. If the end of the text is taken as a fact, two children had to come with their mother, but they have disappeared.
 According to Davies, there was another underlying scene to this one: it is now lost completely.

osirisnet.net

The tomb of Irukaptah at Saqqara, also called Khenu

The tomb of Irukaptah at Saqqara, also called Khenu





The four niches have been reasonably cut into the surface, 45cm above ground level. Each measures about 1.62m in height and 0.62m in width. They are separated by 42cm wide pillars. All had meant to be completed with decoration including an Egyptian coving as well as jambs, but work had been abandoned long before it was finished. However, the outer coving and jambs are present on the first (left) and the jamb on the left side of the second.

 Each niche contains a statue in human size, representing three men and a woman, supposedly these are three of Irukaptah and one of his wife. The mediocre quality of the rock required the use of filler to repair the faults. Remains of a pale pink filler shows that the statues were intended to be painted, but it is uncertain if the colours had begun to be applied.
 All characters stand with their feet together. The three men have the arms hanging at the side of their body, whilst the woman has the right arm folded on her chest, with the hand at the height of the breast.
 Here, more than on the opposite wall, can be seen the stages of creation of these statues, since the preparatory work was in red paint, then passing on to chisel work to create more and more detail.
The tomb of Irukaptah  at Saqqara, also called Khenu
osirisnet. net



ostracon grec

ostracon grec
Edfou

J. Gascou, “Ostraca byzantins d’Edfou et autres provenances”, Travaux et mémoires 16, Mélanges Cécile Morrisson, 2010, p. 363-364.

IFAO.egnet.net

viernes, 18 de septiembre de 2015

Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep

The west wall of the offering chamber contains the two appearance doors of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep, as a partition before the serdab (or statue chamber) of the tomb. Today, the southerly appearance door of Niankhkhnum (width: 1.31m; height: 2.10m) is greatly damaged, because a shaft was cut through at a later period, causing the structure above it to collapse. The northerly appearance door (of the same size) of Khnumhotep remains intact. This northerly door contains a vertical slit in the right-hand section of the outer doorframe which produced the connection to the serdab lying behind this west wall. The two doors are separated by a central field (width: 0.53m). This is embellished by a representation of the two deceased embracing each other.
 The doors, together with the central field, form a single unit, since both appearance doors are interconnected by one upper horizontal lintel

osirisnet.net

Seneb and his family

Cairo Museum

Statue of Ukh-hotep and His Family

Statue of Ukh-hotep and His Family
Material : Granite
Width : 30 CM Height : 37 CM
Found in : Meir () ...
Period : The Middle Kingdom
Reign of : Senusert III
Dynasty: XII
Belonged_to: Ukh-hotep

Statuary group for family members is a type of sculpture that appeared in the Middle Kingdom as a deviation from the typical form of the Old Kingdom style . It is a kind of private sculpture where statues for all the members of the family are carved rather rough-hewn in hard stone such as granite .
This funeral group depicts the family of Ukh-hotep , One of the monarchs of Middle Egypt , that was found in the tomb of Ukh-hotep tomb in the area of the necropolis of the 14th nome of Upper Egypt .
In the center of the stela appears the head of the family , Ukh­hotep , standing with his hands by his sides , wearing a black wig and a long skirt adorned with some of the titles such as head of the priests of Hathor . On the right hand of the man stands one of his wife with her hands by her side too and wearing Hathor wig on her head . In the other side of the stela stands the second wife of Ukh-hotep in the same position . The daughter of Ukh-hotep stands directly beneath her father with beautiful hairstyle that was usually used for depicting children in that period but dressed in the same way of adult woman . The name and function of each member of the family is carved on his cloths . Behind the family members appear two Udjat eyes as a symbol for magical power , while the either sides of the stela are decorated with lotus and Papyrus flowers .
egyptopia.com/Statue+of+Ukh-hotep+and+His+Family+The+Egypti…

Statue of a Family Group



Statue of a Family Group


Family statues from the Old Kingdom often depict the adult male as the largest figure, indicating his position as head of the household. Here, the much smaller figure of the woman is shown kneeling and embracing her husband's leg in a conventional Egyptian gesture of love and support. The couple's son is depicted naked with his hair in a sidelock and a finger to his mouth—a standard way of indicating that he is a young child.
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Reportedly From: Saqqara, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 2371-2298 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late V Dynasty-early VI Dynasty
    PERIOD Old Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 28 15/16 x 9 1/16 x 9 13/16 in. (73.5 x 23 x 25 cm)
     
    Brooklyn Museum
     
    brooklynmuseum.org

    TT51, the tomb of Userhat or , also called Neferhabef .

    TT51, the tomb of Userhat or , also called Neferhabef .
     
     
     
    This is the worship of Montu
    Here, receiving gifts is the seated hawk-headed god, Montu, accompanied, standing behind him, by Meretseger, "Mistress of the West and ..... of the embalmer's house (?)", portrayed on the right-hand end of the register, under a pavilion structure. (a special article exists on Osirisnet about the god Montu.) The names of both deities were written in the usual column fashion, but they are now scarcely legible. Note that originally there was another column of text behind Meretseger's crown,
     
    osirisnet.net
     
     

    domingo, 6 de septiembre de 2015

    Kheruef

    Immediately above this series of assorted characters, the upper sub-register is more badly damaged.
    Continuing from the left-hand side, towards the right, more kneeling dancers can be found, in sometimes strange ritual stances (view tb_01915). Then there are more standing dancers, all leaning forwards, some with their hands raised, some with them placed on their hips, some even touching the ground (view c2_30); their heads can be seen turned upwards or downwards (view cb_64).
    Then the composition changes by the placement of a shrine (or a chest?), which extends to the column of text which introduced the two sub-registers. The content of this small rectangular area is certainly different in appearance (view tb_01923). It actually contains a monkey, a bounding calf and a duck (or a goose) in flight. These are three symbols indicating the rising sun: the monkeys receive it with their scream; the birds fly off and the calf (equating to the deceased or the regenerated sun) rises every morning from the mountains of the west, to where Hathor carried it during the night. These animals greet, each in their own manner, Amenhotep III, who, like the rising sun, rises regenerated for the sed-festival. This is another example of the king's solarisation at the end of his life.

    osirisnet.net





    TT192, the tomb of Kheruef , whose birth name was Naa .

    The gigantic funerary complex, TT192, of Kheruef (a more suitable term than that of simply 'tomb') has been considered as imposing, which indicates the power and the wealth of the person who was for a time the steward of queen Tiy, the Great Royal Wife of Amenhotep III (view CD_04), at a time when Egypt was at the summit of its glory and its prosperity. The monument was very far from being finished when, for an unknown reason, the site was abandoned.
    What is nowadays designated as "the tomb of Kheruef", only includes the entry and the west portico at the far end of the open courtyard, an all small portion of the monument itself.

    osirisnet,net

    kreruef

    The royal couple, accompanied by the goddess Hathor, are under a richly decorated marquee, surmounted of a frieze of uraei (view tb_3334). The structure is supported by delicately slim lotusform and papyriform columns. It should be noted that the queen stands behind the seated king and Hathor.
    , accompanied by the goddess Hathor, are under a richly decorated marquee, surmounted of a frieze of uraei (view tb_3334). The structure is supported by delicately slim lotusform and papyriform columns. It should be noted that the queen stands behind the seated king and Hathor.


    Kheruef

    This is a little better preserved, and the deceased possibly holds a sekhem sceptre. Kheruef has still been destroyed from the waist up. The colours are exquisite. The preserved text gives the name of the mother of Kheruef, Ruiu ".... Kheruef, justified, born of the royal adornment, singer of Isis the God's Mother, and Lady of the House, Ruiu, justified"
    TT192, the tomb of Kheruef , whose birth name was Naa .

    The gigantic funerary complex, TT192, of Kheruef (a more suitable term than that of simply 'tomb') has been considered as imposing, which indicates the power and the wealth of the person who was for a time the steward of queen Tiy, the Great Royal Wife of Amenhotep III (view CD_04), at a time when Egypt was at the summit of its glory and its prosperity. The monument was very far from being finished when, for an unknown reason, the site was abandoned.
    What is nowadays designated as "the tomb of Kheruef", only includes the entry and the west portico at the far end of the open courtyard, an all small portion of the monument itself.

    jueves, 3 de septiembre de 2015

    miércoles, 2 de septiembre de 2015

    Herd of donkeys in ivory

    Herd of donkeys in ivory



    This group of figurines in ivory, which was part of the von Bissing collection and then of the Lunsingh Scheuleer collection, is composed of a herd of seven donkeys. Of miniscule dimensions, they vary from three to four centimetres. The legs of the animals are badly damaged. The figurine depicting the donkey-driver of the herd doesn't exist anymore. It is possible that the objects come from a tomb of the Predynastic Period.

    KMKG - MRAH

    Ivory


    PREDYNASTIC PERIOD

    gloalegyptianmuseum







    stela

    The stela is broken into two pieces: the lunette and decorated section are in Vienna, the long inscription is in the Cairo Museum.
    The Vienna piece has a lunette with a winged sun disc and the usual adoration scene of the Late Period: the deceased is standing in front of an offering table, Osiris, <A HREF=Horus>Harendotes</A> and Isis. The vertical lines of inscription mention the three gods and Tany. She is pouring liquid from a hes-vase over an offering table with loaves. Osiris is standing on a low pedestal, Harendotes and Isis are standing behind him, each holding a was-sceptre in their left hand. Only traces of the first line of the inscription are left on this piece in Vienna.

      ABYDOS
    25TH DYNASTY AND CONTEMPORARIES

    (3) <A HREF=Horus>Harendotes</A>.
    (4) Isis, the Great one, the Divine Mother.
    (5) Words to be spoken by Osiris, the Great God, (6) Lord of Abydos, so that he may give a funerary offering of beer and bread (7) for the revered one with Osiris (8) Tany, true of voice, lady of reverence.



    KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM

    Bergmann, E. von, Übersicht der ägyptischen Alterthümer (1876) 38, Nr. 130; (21878) 36, Nr. 130; (61886) 38, Nr. 130.
    Hamernik, G., Anton Ritter von Laurin. Diplomat, Sammler und Ausgräber. (Dissertation Wien 1985) 178.
    De Meulenaere, H., Retrouvaille de la dame Taniy, in: Pyramid Studies and other Essays, Festschrift I. E. S. Edwards (1988) 68-72.
    Lichtheim, M., The stela of Taniy, CG 20564, its date and its character, (Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur (SAK) 16, 1989) 203 ff.
    Leahy, A., Taniy: A Seventh Century Lady (Cairo CG 20564 and Vienna 192, in: Göttinger Miszellen (GM) 108 (1989) 45.

    globalegyptianmuseum

    martes, 1 de septiembre de 2015

    Part of the base of a statue of Djesernetjeru


    Part of the base of a statue of Djesernetjeru

    Inscribed portion of the pedestal from a statue of a deity. This inscription has been cut at an unknown date from the corner of a statue of a god, one in a series created for the jubilee of king Amenhotep III in c.1360 BC. The god is named in the hieroglyphic inscription as Djesernetjeru, lord of the jubilee, an obscure deity whose principal role may have been only to protect one part of the jubilee rites.

    Present location NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND [30/002] DUBLIN
    Inventory number 1896:19
    Dating AMENHOTEP III/AMENOPHIS III/NEBMAATRE
    Archaeological Site THEBES: EAST BANK ?
    Category PEDESTAL
    Material GRANITE
    Technique CARVED; INCISED
    Height 31.5 cm
    Width 16.5 cm
    Depth 14 cm


    Translation
    Dual king Nebmaatra given life, beloved of Djesernetjeru lord of the sed-festival

    globalegyptianmuseum

    Paheri

    The register continues with traditional harvest scenes (west view 98, west view 97) : of the peasants with bronzed skin, and whose heads are protected by a yellow piece of cloth, cutting the ears of corn very high, as always in Ancient Egypt, with a stone sickle (west view 59). Women, with a pale yellow complexion, collect the ears which are then placed in baskets. These are here carried on the shoulders of three groups of two men , suspended in the middle of a pole (or possibly two, with the effect of pseudo perspective).

    The left-hand pair, Aha and Ka-met-heru, head toward the threshing area, whose representation is lost except a small left-hand part, on the far side of the heap awaiting threshing (west view 96). To one side of the basket which they carry, is represented the woman Ipu, clothed in a tight fitting white dress and holding in her hand two mysterious white objects (west view 29).
    The scene concludes, after a break (west view 96), with the two supervisors, the overseer of the farm land and the overseer of the farmers, who are prostrated "nose to the ground" in front of the master (whose representation has disappeared) and exclaiming : "Let's praise him ! May Ra give him a long life, our master". In front of him is his dog, a sort of greyhound, which turns its head toward him .
    The long inscription above, ends with the name (missing) of "... the mistress of the house of Ahmose".

    The tomb of Renni, numbered EK 7, is of great interest, not only in the setting of the site at El Kab, but more extensively because it is one of the rare Egyptian tombs which dates from the reign of Amenhotep I. From a decorative view point, one feels here the influence of the end of the Middle Kingdom, the cannon of the New Kingdom not yet being completely in place

    osirisnet.net

    Small face of Akhenaten

    Small face of Akhenaten

    This small face of Akhenaten is made of lapis lazuli. It is smoothed down at the back. The forehead has broken off at an oblique angle. The transition from the face to the crown is preserved only on the right side of the forehead. The tip of the nose is damaged. The beardless face is elongated with a narrow jaw and a rounded pointed chin. The cheeks appear hollow because of the high oblique cheekbones. The narrow oblique eyes are indicated only by the upper lids framed by the rounded eyebrows. No contours or pupils have been marked on them. The slender nose has wide wings and drilled nostrils. The mouth has full protruding lips, and downwards from the corners of the mouth runs a curved slight swelling. These are the characteristic features of the portraiture of Pharaoh Akhenaten, despite the horizontal line of the chin in this portrait, which in Akhenaten's reign would have been represented drooping, and the absence of the typically sharp jaw line. The eyes, albeit narrower, resemble those of the king's parents, Amenhotep III and Tiy. This fragmentary face, which preserves only the front part, has the appearance of a mask. The use of lapis lazuli is noteworthy, because blue was the colour associated with the god Amun.

    Present location KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM [09/001] VIENNA
    Inventory number 9964
    Dating AMENHOTEP IV/AMENOPHIS IV/NEFERKHEPERURE/AKHENATEN
    Archaeological Site UNKNOWN
    Category HUMAN FIGURINE
    Material LAPIS LAZULI
    Technique SCULPTURED
    Height 5.4 cm
    Width 3.9 cm
    Depth 2.5 cm



    Bibliography•Katalog "Land der Bibel", Wien (1997), Nr. 57

    globalegyptianmuseum

    Lapis Lazuli Scarab

    Lapis Lazuli Scarab
    This small scarab is made from the blue stone, lapis lazuli. This was very precious to the ancient Egyptians because they prized its blue colour and because it had to be imported into Egypt. Scarabs were sacred to the Egyptians, who believed that they pushed the sun across the sky in the same way that they pushed balls of dung along the ground. Because the sun was reborn each day the scarab is associated with rebirth. It is quite unusual to find a scarab like this one, which has a human head. The carving is very detailed, making this a fine quality piece. It has been pierced to be used in a piece of jewellery. Scarabs of this type should really be called scaraboids because they have the oval scarab shape but are not actually carved with the back of a beetle. Date uncertain, but probably New Kingdom, 1550-1295 BC.
    NWHCM : 1921.37.165.2 : A
    Length: 24mm
    Width: 15mm
    Depth: 10mm

    Gift from Helen Caroline Colman and Ethel Mary Colman