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Presented is a short gallery composed of Ancient Egyptian art produced between 2000 and 1000 B.C.E..  Exhibited is a rich mix of jewelry, sculptures, and images.  The presented jewelry served as funerary valuables as well as status symbols for the aristocracy. The jewelry is made from different gems, precious stones, and gold.  These pieces of wearable art were highly valued by the Ancient Egyptians, and were regarded with the upmost respect. Viewable are intricate designs and details as well as inscriptions on these pieces that tell a story or present a powerful message. The Great Sphinxes of Giza and Hatshepsut are featured. Retaining the same image, the two pieces are juxtaposed by wide variances in medium, scale, and purpose.

All of the presented works come from Egypt but vary in dynasty and time period, spanning both the Old and New Kingdoms, close to 3000 years. Most works are either still present in their original location, or have been moved to various museums around the world.

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Heart Scarab of Hatnefer (1492-1473 B.C.)

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Heart Scarab of Hatnefer (1492-1473 B.C.)

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Artist: Unknown
From: New Kingdom Period, Dynasty 18, reign of Thutmose II
Geography: Egypt
Medium: serpentinite, gold
Dimensions: Scarab: L. 6.6 cm (2 5/8 in.); W. 5.3 cm (2 1/16 in.); H. 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.); Chain: L. 77.5 cm (30.1/2 in.)
Accession #: 36.3.2

Hatnefer was Senenmut's mother. This amulet was used for funerals and was often laid on top of the heart over the deceased.  A heart scarab was intended to be given to someone of importance and worth. The scarab is a symbol associated with the god, Khepri.  The chain is made of gold wire and shows a quadruple-link pattern.  The stone is a grey-green serpentinite.  The back of the scarab is engraved with lines from the Book of the Dead chapter 30A.  These are divided into eleven horizontal lines. Hatnefer's name is inscribed; however, it is done so over another name showing that this amulet was not made for Hatnefer originally.  This amulet represents what the heart meant for Egyptians: it epitomized what they valued so highly such as morality and thinking.  The heart would be used to judge during the final judgment if the person lived a good life and if they were to go onto the afterlife.

“Heart Scarab of Hatnefer,Ca. 1492–1473 B.C.” Metmuseum.org.
“Heart Scarab.” Ancient Egypt Online, ancientegyptonline.co.uk/heartscarab/.

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Artist: Unknown
From: Old Kingdom, Reign of Khafre
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Medium: Limestone
Dimensions: 240' long x 62' wide x 66' tall
Current Location: Cairo, Egypt

The Great Sphinx of Giza, also known as simple The Great Sphinx, is a limestone sculpture located outside the Giza Pyramid Complex. Constructed during the Old Kingdom, the sculpture allegedly represents the Pharaoh Khafre, blended with the mythical Sphinx, a creature known for riddles and wisdom. Originally cut from the bedrock below the desert's surface, the Sphinx was eventually refurbished with limestone blocks dragged from miles away. Various layers of the Sphinx, such as the legs, body, and head were composed out of varying rock qualities, and exposure to different environments (the head receives more sunlight, the body is more prone to sand exposure) results in varying degrees of erosion and degradation. The Sphinx's greatest known attributes are its missing nose and beard.

Mark, Joshua J. “The Great Sphinx of Giza.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 26 Apr. 2019, www.ancient.eu/The_Great_Sphinx_of_Giza/.

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Artist: Unknown
From: First Dynasty of New Kingdom
Location: Egypt
Medium: Gold, Lapis Lazuli, Quartz, Obsidian, and other precious stones
Dimensions: 1' 8" tall by 15.5" wide, weighs 22 lbs
Current Location: Egyptian Museum of Cairo

The Mask of King Tut is an ornamental headpiece created in the First Dynasty of the New Kingdom for the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Adorned in gold and precious stones, the mask was created to adorn the mummified body of the Pharaoh in preparation for his trip to the afterlife. Found in the Pharaoh's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt, the mask is modeled in the idea of Osiris, the God of the Afterlife, and is inscribed with various passages and scripture of the Book of the Dead. Perhaps the most well known piece of Egyptian art, the mask was discovered in 1925 by Howard Carter. The mask was quickly transferred to the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, where it remains on display. It suffered damage in 2014 after a museum worker incorrectly attempted to fix the beard, resulting in minor damage. The mask was correctly fixed the following year, and can still be viewed in the Cairo Museum.

Dorman, Peter F. “Tutankhamun.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 29 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Tutankhamun.
Griffith Institute: Carter Archives - 256a, www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/perl/gi-ca-qmakesumm.pl?sid=109.152.215.177-1279532502&qno=1&curr=256a.

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Sierra Harris

Artist : Unknown

Location:Upper Egypt

Medium:Granite and paint

Dimensions:H: 164 cm (64 9/16 in.); L: 343 cm (135 1/16 in.); Wt: 6758.6 kg (14900 lb.)

Accession#:31.3.166

This colossal sphinx portrays the female pharaoh Hatshepsut. She is given the body of a lion and head of a human. She is one of at least six other sphinx that stood in Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This specific sphinx of Hatshepsut stood out for its powerful muscular lion body characterized by the attention to detail used to carve out the muscles and sculpt the body. In contrast to the idealized face it was given. To have this piece of work to admire we it had to be recovered and reassembled, which was lead by the Museum’s Egyptian Expedition. Now this this colossal art work can be seen in museums along with the other recovered. After Hatshepsut's nephew and successor Thutmose III had it destroyed and dumped in a quarry located nearby after Hatshepsut demise. Sphinx’s have always been part Egyptian art and have represented man great icons; including the Sphinx of Hatshepsut is only one of many.

“Sphinx of Hatshepsut .” Metmuseum.org, 2019, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544442?&searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&deptids=10&high=on&ft=Sphinx%2Bof%2BHatshepsut&offset=0&rpp=20&amp%3Bpos=1.

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Sierra Harris

Artist:Unknown
Location: Middle Egypt
Medium: Limestone and paint
Dimensions: 24.1 cm (9 1/2 in); w. 53.5 cm (21 1/16 in)
Accession#: 1985.328.13

Even with this image being fragment the context clues and references from other similar art lead us to be able to make valuable hypothesis. Therefore,image preserved on this block is a scene that appears to be attendants carrying fans and sun shades.This group of men is striking because of its notable details presented. The time and effort to give them all a subtle difference in characteristics gives the assumption that all the men are from different descents.At least one of the is described to be a foreigner although the first two have been described as Asian descent, characterized by the clean shaven face with no distinguishing characteristics. From the detail of the hair in the third man is described to be Nubian.These assumptions also come from the history we already know about the Egyptians and the role that they play and the influence they have on the rest of the world.

“Foreigners in a Procession.” Metmuseum.org, 2019, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544060?&searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&deptids=10&high=on&ft=Foreigners%2Bin%2Ba%2BProcession&offset=0&rpp=20&%3Bpos=1.

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VMFA Egyptian Gallery
Artist: Unknown
From: Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12
Geography: Egypt
Medium: gold, amethyst
Dimensions: Overall (Bezel): 1/2 × 1 3/8 × 1 3/8 in. (1.27 × 3.49 × 3.49 cm)
Accession #: 63.20.2

The Scarab ring are made to resemble the scarab beetle. They are usually set with stones and jewels.  This beetle is significant because in Ancient Egypt, it represented rebirth.  It was also a symbol of the deity “Kheprie” and “Ra.” These two deities collectively represented the heavenly cycle.  The beetle shape was either carved or molded and the head, wing, and legs were at least shown, so it showed some naturalism.  The scarab ring also served many purposes that were sacred to the Ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptians mainly wore jewelry for good luck, fertility, courage, and protection.  The scarab beetle was meant to protect the written word, so many scarab works of art might have inscriptions and engravings on them.  These engravings were often on the base and were often written in hieroglyphs.  Scarab rings can be made with thread or gold wire.  This specific Scarab ring is made from gold and amethyst.

“EGYPTIAN FASHION AND THE SCARAB RING.” EGYPTIAN FASHION AND THE SCARAB RING Comments, 26 Oct. 2017.
“Scarab Ring (Primary Title) - (63.20.2).” Virginia Museum of Fine Arts |.

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Pectoral and Necklace of Sithathoryunet with the Name of Senwosret II (1887-1878 B.C.)

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Pectoral and Necklace of Sithathoryunet with the Name of Senwosret II (1887-1878 B.C.)

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Artist: Unknown
From: Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reign of Senwosret II
Geography: Egyp
Medium: gold, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, garnet, green feldspare
Dimensions: L. of necklace (b): 82 cm (32 5/16 in.); H. of pectoral (a): 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.); W. 8.2 cm (3 1/4 in.)
Accession #: 16.1.3a, b

This necklace was found with  Princess Sithathoryunet's jewelry in her tomb next to the pyramid of Senwosret II.  The pectoral is inlaid with 372 semiprecious stones. Some of the gemstones here like lapis and turquoise had to be imported which increases the value and worth of this piece.  Lapis and turquoise and gemstones like those were usually hard to come by during politically unstable times, so this gives insight into when the time period this piece was made during. Zigzag lines are shown at the base which represents ancient-like waters.  The falcons symbolize the sun god, and they are clasped with a hieroglyph, which is meant to declare the sun god's power over the universe.  The god, Heh, is also shown kneeling and holding two palm ribs which are meant to symbolize "millions of years."  Two cobras are also shown which represent Nekhbet and Udjo, the protector goddesses of the king.  Jewelry such as this necklace were worn exclusively by women of a certain status and wealth.  Wearing jewelry showed one's royalty and almost gave powers to the women who wore them so they could support the king.  This explains why the necklace is named after the king and not the woman wearing the necklace.

“[Egyptian Jewelry: A Window into Ancient Culture] | American Research Center In Egypt.” ARCE.
“Pectoral and Necklace of Sithathoryunet with the Name of Senwosret II,Ca. 1887–1878 B.C.” Metmuseum.org.