Reproduction Details
Object Type: Naos shrine
Date: c. 1336-1327 BC
Period: Dynasty 18, New Kingdom
Findspot: Treasury Room, Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62), Valley of the Kings
Materials: Wood, gold and silver
Size: Height 50.5 cm, width 32 cm (shrine)
Current location: Egyptian Museum, Cairo (JE 61481)
Art Ref: DP36
This reproduction is based on a small panel found on a golden statue shrine known as a noas found in the treasury room of Tutankhamun’s tomb dating to around 1324 BC. The shrine is decorated with scenes showing the king with his wife and sister, Ankhesenamun, executed using a form of ancient Egyptian art distinctive to the 18th dynasty known as Amarna style.
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun is sitting on a lion-footed ebony folding stool topped with a leopard-skin cushion. He is wearing the Blue Crown with a uraeus cobra, a flowing linen garment secured with a red sash around the waist, and a floral collar. In one hand he holds a bouquet of lotus flowers and mandrake fruits, and in the other, a vial of perfume he is pouring into the hands of his wife.
Ankhesenamun
Ankhesenamun is sitting on a richly patterned cushion as she casually leans on her husband. She holds out her hand to receive the perfume and holds it close to her nose as if to smell its fragrance. She wears a fine linen dress which exposes one of her breasts, secured at the waist with a red sash. Upon her head is an elaborate Nubian-style wig held in place by a diadem featuring the uraeus, or royal cobra. Upon this wig is a modius or platform crown often shown on New Kingdom queens which is related to her role as the Divine Chantress of Amun. It features two falcon feathers symbolising the god Amun held between cow horns and a sun disk, symbolising the goddesses Isis and Hathor.
Translation
The hieroglyphs show the royal couple’s names inside oval cartouches as well as a short prayer for eternal life. To the right of Tutankhamun is his birth name:
“Tutankhamun heqa Iunu shemai (The living image of Amun, ruler of southern Heliopolis)”
To the left of Tutankhamun is his throne name:
“Nebkheperura (Lord of the forms of Ra)”
The inscription and cartouche relating to Ankhesenamun begin above the perfume vial and should be read from right to left:
“Great royal wife of the Lord of the Two Lands, Ankhesenamun (She lives for Amun), may she live for eternity”
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