Image Gallery
Boat of Queen Mutemwia
This sculpture represents a sacred boat on a sledge. It included a seated figure of Queen Mutemwia, wife of Thutmose IV. Only her legs and right hand remained intact, but part of the head is also in the British Museum. Mutemwia clasps a looped cross, the hieroglyphic symbol for life (ankh). A vulture spreads its wings around the queen and throne. This is an image of Mut, consort of the supreme god Amun-Ra. In fact, Mutemwia means "Mut is in the sacred boat", so the sculpture is a also a rebus visualizing the queen's name. The double face on the prow represents Hathor, Egypt's most beloved and universal goddess, whose remits included festivals and music. Cartouches on her crown name Mutemwia's son, king Amenhotep III. From the temple of Amun-Ra at Thebes, Karnak, Egypt, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, c. 1390-1352 BCE.
The British Museum, London.
Questions & Answers
How long was ancient Egypt art produced?
- Ancient Egyptian art was created from the Predynastic Period (c. 6000 to c. 3150 BCE) through the Ptolemaic Period (323-30 BCE) and even into the era of Roman Egypt (30 BCE-646 CE).
What was the purpose of ancient Egyptian art?
- Ancient Egyptian art was primarily functional - it served a practical purpose - but it was still crafted to be aesthetically pleasing.
What types of art did the ancient Egyptians produce?
- The ancient Egyptians produced all kinds of art from statuary to jewelry to ceramics, paintings, drawings, figurines, everyday household items, clothing, dog collars, and ornamentation for tombs, temples, and monuments.
What is the most famous artwork from ancient Egypt?
- The most famous artwork from ancient Egypt is the Great Sphinx of Giza followed by the bust of Queen Nefertiti and the golden death mask of Tutankhamun.
