1979.13 (Sculpture)

1979.13 (Sculpture) image

This piece is typical of limestone reliefs that would have adorned private altars in Ancient Egypt, according to David Depuma of the University of Iowa. This particular piece is interesting because of its peculiarities when compared to others of its kind. It is odd in that it depicts a human as occupying a space very near the top of the image. This was rare in Egyptian art, as the top space of any relief was often reserved for the Sun or other deities to show their religious significance. It is also interesting in that it is an inverted version of a typical limestone relief from the Amarna period of Egyptian history. During this time, images were carved into limestone rather than out of them. These details, as well as the lack of a proper headdress for the individual, may suggest that this piece is a forgery produced to capitalize on popular interest in Amarna period studies.

The Amarna Period itself was a time of great religious upheaval for Ancient Egyptian society. The Pharaoh Amenhotep IV came to power and radically changed the polytheistic religious system of civilization into a monotheistic religion based solely around the Sun god Aten. The Pharaoh then took the name Akhenaten and proceeded to enforce bans on the depiction of any other deities besides Aten. The greatest works during this brief period of monotheism were the great temple complexes established in modern-day Amarna by Akhenaten near the end of his reign. These temples and their ruins provide some of the greatest insight into the state of Egyptian religion during the New Kingdom. After Akhenaten's death, Egypt reverted back to its traditional religious roots and deemed the teachings of the Aten cult to be heretical.

Egyptian temple type limestone cut block relief; yellow-tan colored stone, black painted designs & accents; relief of human head, wearing decorative headdress, large facial features, nose, eyes, ears & mouth, right-side of block; relief of stone pillar decorative black lines, left-side of block; rimmed edge on top; relief attached to black painted wooden stand, green felt covered base, brass metal pegs; bottom of stand marked "4., 670, A8025 Egypt, Amarna Period"; right & left sides of relief are rough, uneven stone; black wooden stand. Limestone cut block relief; yellow-tan colored stone, black painted designs and accents; relief of human head, wearing decorative headdress, large facial features, nose, eyes, ears and mouth, right side of block; relief of stone pillar, decorative black lines, left side of block; rimmed edge on top; relief attached to black painted wooden stand, green felt covered base, brass metal pegs; bottom of stand marked "4., 70, A8025 Egypt, Amarna Period"; right and left sides of relief are rough, uneven stone; top is carved flat.

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1979.13 (Sculpture) image
1979.13 (Sculpture) image
1979.13 (Sculpture) image