Egyptian relief with a divine woman in profile, Ptolemaic Period, c.332-30 BC
Sandstone
Height: 25cm, width: 19cm
11319
Charles Ede, London
Further images
Carved in raised relief and depicting a divine woman in profile, facing right. She is crowned with a circlet of uraei, and wears an echeloned tripartite wig which falls behind...
Carved in raised relief and depicting a divine woman in profile, facing right. She is crowned with a circlet of uraei, and wears an echeloned tripartite wig which falls behind her back with one lappet over her shoulder, and is surmounted by a vulture headdress whose right wing falls down the side of her head and is tucked behind the ear. Around her neck is a broad collar necklace composed of many strings of beads. Her face has cosmetic lines around the eyes, full lips and a soft jaw.
A fragment without restoration, the surface having undergone consolidation to prevent further damage. Mounted to be either hung on a wall, or placed on its stand.
The vulture headdress was worn by goddesses, the Great Royal Wife (the pharaoh’s primary queen), high ranking priestesses and female pharaohs. The vulture represented Nekhbet, a goddess of Upper Egypt, whilst the uraeus represented Wadjet, a goddess of Lower Egypt. The combination symbolised rule over a unified Egyptian land.
A fragment without restoration, the surface having undergone consolidation to prevent further damage. Mounted to be either hung on a wall, or placed on its stand.
The vulture headdress was worn by goddesses, the Great Royal Wife (the pharaoh’s primary queen), high ranking priestesses and female pharaohs. The vulture represented Nekhbet, a goddess of Upper Egypt, whilst the uraeus represented Wadjet, a goddess of Lower Egypt. The combination symbolised rule over a unified Egyptian land.
Provenance
Peter Georgeson (1940-2020), Chiselhurst, UK; acquired mid 20th century or earlier, possibly from Spink & Son, London, UK
Literature
Compare an example in the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, USA, object number 2005.005.004