Astronomical ceiling, golden throne, and other iconic works of ancient Egyptian art through which to explore history

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Egyptian civilization has always been considered the most mysterious, wealthy and prosperous among all that has ever existed. Her sculpture, architecture and other objects of art and not only were considered cult, ranging from the sphinx with its fantastic riddles and ending with the pyramids that literally stretch upward. However, there are much more interesting Egyptian artifacts that not everyone knows about.

1. Tutankhamun's tomb

The burial place of Tutankhamun is much smaller than any other royal tombs, but this does not detract from his contribution to history. Those artifacts and objects of the ancient world that were found in it helped modern historians to better understand and study the ancient Egyptian era better. During the excavations of this tomb, many interesting things were discovered, including the golden mask of the king, as well as his throne. Since the excavation process lasted a long time and was carried out as carefully and painstakingly as possible, archaeologists managed to extract more than three thousand artifacts from it. The sarcophagus itself was unique in its kind, if only because the mummy in it was practically not damaged over time.

2. Throne of Tutankhamun

Howard Carter, one of the archaeologists who excavated the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, discovered perhaps the most important find of the time - the royal throne. It is noteworthy that the tomb of this king to this day is considered significant, because, according to historical research, it was practically not looted. The throne itself became the embodiment of royal power and the respect that the subjects felt in relation to their ruler. Skillfully made, this work of art, created by the hands of ancient Egyptian masters, even after three thousand years has not lost its beauty, has not faded or deteriorated over time. The base of the throne is made of gold, decorated with colored glasses that form a mosaic, akin to the Byzantine. In addition, it is complemented by a whole scattering of precious stones. A scene from the king's daily life is engraved on the back of the throne. It depicts Tutankhamun seated on a throne and his wife Ankhesenamun rubbing oils into his tense shoulders. If you look closely at their images, you can find paired gold bracelets at the ankles, which were considered a symbol of marriage in Egypt.

3. Book of the Dead

This manuscript was a collection of Egyptian funerary texts that was readily used during the New Kingdom period (from about 1550 BC to 50 BC). Initially, correctly translated from Egyptian, its name meant "The Book of the Ascension", since it contained the texts "about going out into the light of day." The book contains texts that describe the path of a dead person through the Duat - the Egyptian kingdom of the dead, and which also help to find peace after death. These texts were closely related to the "Texts of the Sarcophagi" and the "Texts of the Pyramids" in particular, which were previously located on various objects, and not on papyrus.

4. Golden Tree of Life

The inhabitants of Ancient Egypt sacredly believed in the symbolism of some things, in particular those that were depicted in this picture. It depicts the East as the birthplace of life, because it is there that the sun rises. The West is a place of death, because there the sun hides behind the horizon. The ancient Egyptians believed that the sun does not just hide in the sky, but that it manages to pass through the world of the dead during the night before appearing in the east the next day. The birds on the tree represent all stages of life, which, as expected, are directed towards the east. Except for one bird, which rushed to the west, because she is a symbol of death and old age. This bright, catchy, unique painting carries an ancient message and also boasts an unusual combination of colors.

5. Bust of Nefertiti

It is believed that the bust of the queen was made around 1340 BC, at the same time that the statue of Akhenaten was created. The bust was created from a single piece of limestone, and also boasts an impressive weight of more than twenty kilograms. The idea of creating something that would resemble a royal person was often seen in finds from Egypt. However, this bust is exceptional in that it conveys remarkably accurate depictions and features of the queen. Since the find is well preserved, you can see Nefertiti's neat cheekbones, strong-willed jaw, a sharp and sharp nose and much more on it. The main part of the bust was covered with plaster of plaster, after which it was painted with paints, due to which such an amazing resemblance to the queen was obtained. In addition, the bust also demonstrates the crown of the queen, her scarlet lips, favorite jewelry and, of course, dark skin. Nefertiti's eyes were adorned with precious stones and covered with beeswax.

6. Canopic vases

Such vases were used in Ancient Egypt during the mummification process, because the organs of the deceased were stored in them. For each human organ, accordingly, its own vase was intended. They were created either from porcelain stoneware, or carved by craftsmen from a single piece of limestone. Canopic vases were used during the Old Kingdom and before the reign of King Ptolemy, after which the organs were wrapped in tissue and stored with the body. The name "canopic" earlier mistakenly allowed identifying these vases as part of the legend of the city of Canopic. Basically, these vases were engraved and had a simple, comfortable lid. During the Middle Kingdom, engravings became more refined, and covers were made in the shape of people's heads. A little later, during the reign of the nineteenth dynasty, the caps acquired the forms of Horus and his children.

7. Papyri

The modern word "paper" stretches its historical roots precisely to papyrus - a plant that grew in the Nile Delta, and from the core of which it was produced. Historians and archaeologists have even found giant papyrus rolls up to ten meters long. The method for making papyrus paper was unknown for a while until it was discovered in the 1940s. The stories painted on papyrus often depict pictures from the daily life of the Egyptians of that time, showing scientific and religious sketches. The inscriptions that were used on papyrus ultimately gave rise to two main types of writing - Arabic and Roman.

8. Statuette of Cheops

This statuette was found in 1903 by archaeologist V. Petri in the city of Abydos. It is rather small, only about seven centimeters in height, but it has been well preserved to our times. So much so that you can distinguish the facial features of the king depicted on this statuette. On the head of the pharaoh is his crown, and in his hands he squeezes nothing more than a fan. The original engravings and curls-cartouches, as well as the image of Horus, which is barely distinguishable at the level of the ruler's feet, give him a truly god-like status that was inherent in all pharaohs. Today this statuette is kept and exhibited in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

9. Statue of Cleopatra VII Philopator

This artifact is considered one of the most valuable in all of Egypt, as it is a fairly detailed image of the last queen. She belongs to seven famous statues that depict the rulers of Egypt. Cleopatra herself belonged to the Ptolemaic family, who were famous for their cruelty. The murder of mothers, fathers and children was the norm for this family, and Cleopatra was no exception to this rule, because, striving for power, she also killed several of her blood relatives. She was portrayed as a dignified Egyptian, probably to remind the Romans of her ancestry, but her face was carved in a Greco-Roman style. The statue is famous for the triple ureus (cobra) that braids the queen's head and forehead. The statue is poorly preserved in modern times: it was damaged in the area of the ankles, but modern craftsmen recreated them from a different material.

10. Astronomical ceiling of Senmut's tomb

Senmut was a prominent architect who designed the tomb of Hatshepsut. However, his burial site is as impressive as his work. Its main feature is the galaxy map on the ceiling, which is the first of its kind. It consists of two main parts: the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively. In the north, the Egyptian lunar cycles are clearly visible, as well as the constellations known at that time. The southern hemisphere depicts the stars and planets that can be seen in the sky. The most interesting thing is that in this picture of the galaxy there is no image of the planet Mars.

Continuing the topic, read also about how museums around the world were mistaken for originals.