Interesting Relief Sculpture Of Pharaoh Hatshepsut Found At Swansea University

AncientPages.com - A depiction of Hatshepsut, one of the most prominent pharaohs in history has been accidentally found by Egyptology Dr Ken Griffin lecturer at Swansea University’s Egypt Center.

Among many objects, particularly this ancient relief sculpture was much more interesting than initially thought, according to Dr Griffin.

The front part of the artifact. Credit: The Egypt Centre, Swansea University

The object consists of two glued, irregularly shaped limestone fragments depicting the Egyptian ruler Hatshepsut. The pharaoh Hatshepsut ruled the empire in the 18th dynasty and was considered to be among just five women who held this position (c.1478–1458 BC).

Hatshepsut’s reign was peaceful and prosperious. She constructed monuments throughout Egypt. Her memorial temple at Deir el-Bahri, built to celebrate and maintain her cult, is a masterpiece of Egyptian architecture.

The artifact had been kept in storage for over twenty years and was requested for the handling session based only on an old black and white photograph.

Rear aspect of the artifact. Credit: The Egypt Centre, Swansea University

The front side depicts the head of a figure whose face is unfortunately missing, with the remains of a fan directly behind. Traces of hieroglyphs are also present above the head.

The iconography of the piece indicates that it represents a ruler of Egypt, particularly with the presence of the uraeus (cobra) on the forehead of the figure.

Who is this mysterious pharaoh and where did the fragment originate from? On the rear of the upper fragment, the head of a man with a short beard is depicted.

Initially there was no explanation for this, but it is now clear that the upper fragment had been removed and recarved in more recent times in order to complete the face of the lower fragment. The replacement of the fragment below the figure would also explain the unusual cut of the upper fragment.

The fragments are less than 5cm thick and had clearly been removed from the wall of a temple or tomb, as can be seen from the cut marks on the back.

The artifact is similar to reliefs within the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri (Luxor), constructed during the height of the New Kingdom. Particularly, the treatment of the hair, the fillet headband with twisted uraeus, and the decoration of the fan are all well-known at Deir el-Bahri. Most importantly, the hieroglyphs above the head—part of a formulaic text attested elsewhere at the temple—use a feminine pronoun, a clear indication that the figure is female.

Early in her reign she was represented as a female wearing a long dress, but she gradually took on more masculine traits, including being depicted with a beard.

The Swansea University informed that the artifact came to Swansea in 1971 as part of the distribution of objects belonging to Sir Henry Wellcome (1853–1936), the pharmaceutical entrepreneur based in London.

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