The blog
post for this week is written by Dr Dulcie Engel, former French university
lecturer, regular volunteer with an interest in collecting and collectors, and
a previous contributor to this blog.
The Amarna
Period covers a period in the Eighteenth Dynasty of the New Kingdom from the
reign of Amenhotep IV, who became Akhenaten (1353–36 BCE), to that of his son
Tutankhaten/Tutankhamun (d.1324 BCE). Akhenaten famously rejected the old
religion and the power of the priests of Amun, transferring the capital to
Akhetaten (Tell el-Amarna), and worship to the Aten (sun disc). Some suggest
this was the first manifestation of monotheism (Hoffmeier 2015). The old
religion was later restored by Tutankhamun. This break with the past is also
evident in the art of the period. We find depictions of busy scenes and figures
with exaggerated features: elongated faces, fingers, and toes, almond-shaped
eyes, large hips, rounded breasts and bellies. However, the most famous
surviving artwork from Amarna does not show such extreme exaggeration: the
Nefertiti bust, now in Berlin.
Fig. 1: Statue of Akhenaten carrying an offering tray (W154) |
The five
objects we handled this evening are just a few of the 300 plus items from
Amarna in the Egypt Centre. W154 is a fragment from a sandstone statue of
Akhenaten carrying an offering tray (fig. 1). Such statues are relatively
common. Our fragment shows three of his fingers, and on the other side, part of
the offering tray (Bosse-Griffiths 2001, 131–134). According to the Egypt
Exploration Society (EES) object card, it was excavated at Amarna on 23
December 1931 and later given to Sir Henry Wellcome as part of the distribution
of finds (Pendlebury 1951, 102).
Fig. 2: Ring bezel with the name of Akhenaten (VAD29) |
VAD29 is a
turquoise blue faience ring bezel with the name of Akhenaten (fig. 2). The
shoulder of the ring is also preserved on one side. It seems that such rings
were distributed by the pharaohs, possibly as a sign of royal protection, or on
special occasions such as coronations. They have been found in royal tombs, the
houses of commoners, and the workmen’s village (Shannon 1987; Shaw 1984). Ring
bezels with cartouches were introduced by Akhenaten’s father Amenhotep III and
remained popular until the end of the New Kingdom.
We also
handled W1150, a part of a dark blue faience ring bezel depicting a female lute
player with a monkey (fig. 3). The detail is exquisite, given its tiny size,
and can only be appreciated with a magnifying glass. That is one reason why
having the opportunity to see such objects outside the case is so valuable! The
figure has a rounded belly, typical of Amarna style. The lute player is naked
and has a cone on her head. It is a youthful and sexualised depiction.
Furthermore, the monkey is a symbol of female sexuality as well as of music and
dance (Bosse-Griffiths 2001 165–173; Graves-Brown 2014). In this period, the
lute had only recently been introduced to Egypt. This particular bezel was
found in a house in the Northern City area of Amarna.
Fig. 4: Small fragment of an Amarna stela (W242) |
W242 is a
small fragment of a private devotional stela carved from sandstone, depicting
three columns of the Aten’s titulary, the cartouches of the Aten, and, in one
corner, the rays of the Aten (fig. 4). It was purchased at auction in 1930 (lot
77), but the exact provenance is unknown. It may have come from the excavations
directed by Petrie in the 1890s, or perhaps even the EES excavations in the
1920s. What is most exciting is that W242 appears to fit together with a larger
fragment of a stela in Berlin (ÄM 14511). The Berlin piece depicts Akhenaten
and Nefertiti worshipping the Aten (fig. 5). Further research on this object is
currently ongoing by Ken, who is preparing it for publication!
Despite
that, my favourite object remains W10, one of four collars said to have come
from the royal tombs at Amarna (fig. 6). We know they were acquired by Lady
Berens in the 1880s, shortly after a rich tomb was pillaged in Amarna. They
were later purchased by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1924 (lots 66–69). This
provenance is, however, questionable. The collars, which show great
workmanship, appear to have had wealthy owners, and feature amulets and beads
associated more with females (such as the fish, the female deities, and the
nasturtium seeds on W10). The terminals are missing on all four collars:
possibly cut off to be sold separately? Many of the beads and amulets are in
the style of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and in particular, linked with Amarna.
Fig. 6: Amarna collar (W10) |
Furthermore,
the thread is of linen, rather than the cotton more commonly used by forgers.
We will probably never know whether they are genuine or not, although it may be
possible to test and date the thread. The collars remain some of our most
popular exhibits: and indeed W9 was voted as one of the Highlights of the
collection. It was therefore a great privilege for me to get up so close to one
of these iconic pieces. The beads on this necklace are mainly made from
faience, with faience amulets/pendants. The central one is a heart amulet,
flanked in sequence on each side by a squatting child (probably the Pharaoh); a
female deity holding a lotus staff; a light green bulla (a drop-shaped amulet;
missing on one side); and a fish carved from lapis lazuli. The rest of the
pendants on the outer layer are alternating yellow and brown rosettes; at each
end is a green thistle head/cornflower (one is quite damaged). There is a
partial row of blue nasturtium seed beads in the middle row, ending with a red
glass bead. Tiny beads woven together in alternating colours make up the inner
and outer rows, known as bead bands, with a net-like pattern of tubular beads
joining each row together (Bosse-Griffiths 2001, 27–30).
You will be
pleased to hear that Ken’s next course starting in the New Year will be on the
Amarna Period!
Bibliography:
Bosse-Griffiths, K.
(2001) ‘Baboon and maid’. In Amarna studies and other selected papers, ed. J. G. Griffiths. Orbis Biblicus et
Orientalis 182. Freiburg; Göttingen: Universitätsverlag; Vandenhoeck &
Ruprecht. 165–173.
Bosse-Griffiths, K.
(2001) ‘Bead collars with Amarna amulets in the Wellcome Collection of the
University College, Swansea’. In Amarna Studies and other Selected Papers, ed. J. G. Griffiths. Freiburg (Schweiz);
Göttingen: Universitätsverlag; Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 27–30.
Bosse-Griffiths, K.
(2001) ‘Incense for the Aten’. In Amarna Studies and other Selected Papers, ed. J. G. Griffiths. Freiburg (Schweiz);
Göttingen: Universitätsverlag; Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 131–134.
Graves-Brown, C.
(2014) ‘A gazelle, a lute player and Bes: three ring bezels from Amarna’. In A good scribe and an exceedingly wise man:
studies in honour of W. J. Tait, ed. A. M. Dodson, J. J. Johnston and W.
Monkhouse. GHP Egyptology 21. London: Golden House Publications. 113–126.
Hoffmeier, J. K.
(2015) Akhenaten and the origins of
monotheism. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.
Kemp, B. J. (2013) The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna
and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson.
Pendlebury, J. D.
S. (1951) The City of Akhenaten. Part III: The Central City and the Official Quarters. The Excavations at Tell el-Amarna during the Season 1926–1927 and 1931–1936. 2 vols. Excavation Memoirs 44. London: Egypt Exploration
Society.
Shannon, E. (1987)
‘Bezels with royal names from the Workmen’s Village 1979–1986’. In Amarna reports IV, ed. B. J. Kemp. Egypt
Exploration Society, Occasional Publications 5. London: Egypt Exploration
Society. 154–159.
Shaw, I. (1984)
‘Ring bezels at el-Amarna’. In Amarna
reports I, ed. B. J. Kemp. Egypt Exploration Society, Occasional
Publications 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 124–132.
Sotheby and Co.
(1930) Catalogue of antiquities, etc.,
comprising early bronze implements, the property of Edward Dent and the
property of Monsieur de la Grancière, Babylonian inscribed bricks, the property
of Colonel W.J.P. Rodd, Egyptian and classical antiquities and fine Roman
glass, the property of the late G.E. Smyth, and the property of C. Milman
Mainwaring, an important Roman couch, the property of Signor Massimo Colozzi
...; which will be sold by auction by Sotheby and Co. ... on Wednesday, the
23rd day of July, 1930. London: Sotheby and Co.
Sotheby, Wilkinson
& Hodge. (1924) Catalogue of
Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek & Roman antiquities, &c.: comprising the
collection formed by H. Griebert, Esq. of Berkeley House, Finchley Road, N.W.;
including Egyptian amulets, and figures in pottery, silver and bronze; Greek
vases, etc.; the property of Mrs. J. Waugh; the property of Sir Henry Paul
Harvey, K.C.M.G.; the Berens collection of Babylonian tablets, the property of
Mrs. Randolph Berens, of 14, Princes Gardens, S.W.; a fine Græco-Roman marble
head of Heracles from the collection of the late Carl Brownlow at Ashbridge,
and other properties, including Roman bronze work, Peruvians and
Græco-Phœnician gold ornaments, etc.; which will be sold by auction by Messrs.
Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge ... on Thursday, the 28th of February, 1924.
London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge.
Great article and super-clear photos. Well done Dulcie!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post!
Delete