Egyptian cartouche of Usermaatre, Third Intermediate Period, 22nd Dynasty, c.943-716 BC
Limestone
Dimensions: 25.5 x 43 x 3.5cm
11162 TA
£ 34,000
Cartouche carved in sunken relief with hieroglyphs from right to left, read as 'Usermaatre, beloved of Amun'. The surface is covered with light, diagonal dashes, the relief sawn down from...
Cartouche carved in sunken relief with hieroglyphs from right to left, read as 'Usermaatre, beloved of Amun'. The surface is covered with light, diagonal dashes, the relief sawn down from a larger piece of stone. An intact fragment, the surface with rootilation and some damage in particular to the left sids of the cartouche.
This cartouche contains the name Usermaatre, which was adopted by many of the pharaohs from the Third Intermediate period, who were trying to emulate the earlier rulers. Usermaatre was also the first throne name of Ramesses II and Ramesses III. Such names were proceeded by the words '"[He] of sedge [and] bee", or more colloquially "King of Upper and of Lower Egypt". Ramesses III, was the second pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty, and he is considered to be the last of the great pharaohs from the New Kingdom. He lived in a time of great economic and political upheaval, in part caused by the invasion of 'The Sea Peoples', a civilisation that greatly contributed to the collapse of the Late Bronze Age. His successful defence of Egypt gained Ramesses the reputation as a warrior pharaoh.
This cartouche contains the name Usermaatre, which was adopted by many of the pharaohs from the Third Intermediate period, who were trying to emulate the earlier rulers. Usermaatre was also the first throne name of Ramesses II and Ramesses III. Such names were proceeded by the words '"[He] of sedge [and] bee", or more colloquially "King of Upper and of Lower Egypt". Ramesses III, was the second pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty, and he is considered to be the last of the great pharaohs from the New Kingdom. He lived in a time of great economic and political upheaval, in part caused by the invasion of 'The Sea Peoples', a civilisation that greatly contributed to the collapse of the Late Bronze Age. His successful defence of Egypt gained Ramesses the reputation as a warrior pharaoh.
Provenance
Peter and Joycelyn Mitchell, Mawallock, Australia; acquired Sotheby’s, London, 14th December 1981, lot 78, where the provenance was listed as 'Various Properties'
Listed on an inventory of goods dated 10.9.84, collection ref. Er 1.1
Literature
Compare an example in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, inventory no.5905Publications
Sotheby’s, London, Antiquities, 14th December 1981, lot 781
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