What is this? Why is there a hole in the middle?
This relief is remarkable because it depicts Sobekhotep III, one of fifty kings who reigned during the disorganized period known as the 13th Dynasty in ancient Egypt. It's rare to see monuments to these kings!
The large hole at the center is from an attempt in the 19th century to use this slab as a grinding stone. Luckily, in a way, the stone was too thin and cracked quickly so none of the remaining carving was rubbed away.
What's this?
It's a two-sided board and the side that we are seeing shows a game known as 20-squares since scholars aren't sure what it was called in antiquity.
The game originated in Mesopotamia and spread to Egypt from there. It seems that it got its start as a way of telling fortunes, but was also just played for fun.
There are inscriptions on the platform that he is standing on. Any idea what it means? They seem to be birds and ducks.
The inscription (which does include some bird-shaped signs) refers to "festivals in the house of rejoicing" which scholars have determined is another way of saying the "sed" festival a type of jubilee that Egyptian kings celebrated.
Because of this inscription, that also describes the king as "possessor of food, rich in sustenance," scholars believe that this statuette was created for a "sed" festival of Amunhotep III and may have even functioned kind of like a party favor.
Was he a pharaoh of some sort? I notice his elaborate kilt and headpiece.
Yes! Amunhotep III was a king (or pharaoh) of Egypt during the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom period. There was a tremendous amount of art production during his reign. In fact, there are more statues known today of Amunhotep III than any other king!
The headdress he is wearing here is known as the Blue Crown (even though it is shown here in gold). The shape is based on a military helmet and it first became popular in the 18th Dynasty.
I think I remember hearing that Egyptians were interested in the perseverance of youth or looking a traditional way when they made sculptures but this sculpture shows the king aging. Was he one of the first to break the chain of the ideal figure?
Very observant! Amunhotep III was not the first to be depicted aging or with sagging skin in his face. The kings of the 12th Dynasty were known for being shown with folds in their cheeks.
These styles of depiction came and went like fashion trends. Looking youthful could communicate strength and longevity, but looking older could also communicate things like wisdom.
Thanks :)
Do you know what material he is made out of?
This statuette is made of wood. The gold is gold leaf. And the eyes and eyebrows are made of glass.
Is he wearing dark eye makeup?
His eyes are lined blue glass. The color is a reference to lapis lazuli. It may represent make-up, but it could also simply reference the ancient Egyptian belief that the gods had hair made of lapis lazuli, an incredibly valuable material at the time.
What were stelae used for?
By definition, a stela is a slab of stone or wood with images and/or writing on it. This stela and most of the others you’ll see in our galleries were used in tombs as representation of offerings to the dead and a way to ask for more.
The people on the right are giving the offerings. The people on the left are receiving them. You can even see them sniffing their flowers!
We love the jewelry - who wore them?
Most people in ancient Egypt wore jewelry, especially necklaces. This gallery represents the tombs of some elite individuals, but even the simplest of burials usually contain at least one necklace.
That purple one is made of the stone Amethyst which is still popular for jewelry today.
Was this coffin found in a pyramid?
No, the only people who were actually buried in the pyramids were kings and queens. Other elite Egyptians would be buried in nearby cemeteries.
This coffin was actually found in the cemetery of a place called Deir el-Medina not far from the Valley of the Kings. It was a small village where the artists who built and decorated the kings' tombs lived!
Thank you very much.
