Image Gallery
King Amenhotep III as a Lion
Statue of Amenhotep III, declares the king's might by representing him as a lion, from Napata (Gebel Barkal, Sudan), originally from Soleb (Sudan), 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, 1390-1352 BCE.
Pharaohs were often shown as a sphinx, with the body of a lion, but the full lion image is rare. An inscription on the chest, added by Amenhotep IV, calls the king a "lion of the rulers, wild when he sees his enemies tread his path". The sculpture was famed for its realistic anatomical detail and departure from the frontality of most Egyptian statues. The eyes were originally inlaid. Amenhotep III commissioned the lion sculptures for the temple of Amun-Ra at Soleb in Upper Nubia, in the conquered former kingdom of Kush. The next king, Amenhotep IV (later called Akhenaten), ensured that these sculptures reached Soleb, after his father's untimely death. In the text on the base, Amenhotep is honored by his grandson, Tutankhamun. A thousand years later, the statues so impressed the Kushite ruler, Amanislo, that her moved them 500 kilometers south to the city of Napata. Here, Amanislo's name appear on the lion's left foreleg.
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.
