Artefact #1 - Death mask of Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun's death mask is made of solid gold which was placed over the head and shoulders of Tutankhamun's mummy and weighs a total of 11 kg. The blue stripes and the inlay of the plaited beard are both blue glass to pose as lapis lazuli. On the chest from shoulder to shoulder is a collar encrusted with parts of lapis lazuli, quartz, green feldspar and a variety of coloured glass. At each end are a falcons head made from gold encrusted with obsidian and coloured glass. Also the back of the mask has an inscription of a spell intended for protecting the mask.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that the Ancient Egyptians treated their Pharaohs like gods. This tells us that the Egyptians had extremely wealthy mines and trade routes. The mask also reveals that craftsmen and artists involved put a lot of thought and effort in mask craftsmanship and design, tomb preparation and embalming stages. Likewise the mask informs us that Ancient Egyptian craftsmen must have been very skilled and trained to complete this detailed and complex work of art.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that the Ancient Egyptians treated their Pharaohs like gods. This tells us that the Egyptians had extremely wealthy mines and trade routes. The mask also reveals that craftsmen and artists involved put a lot of thought and effort in mask craftsmanship and design, tomb preparation and embalming stages. Likewise the mask informs us that Ancient Egyptian craftsmen must have been very skilled and trained to complete this detailed and complex work of art.
Artefact #2 - Tutankhamun's Crook & Flail
These iconic pieces represent power. They were found in separate rooms in Tutankhamun's tomb, the flail was in the Treasury and the crook was in the Antechamber. Since the flail was held at coronation ceremonies it is historically the more interesting piece of the pair. The flails gold cap at the end of it's handle bears the king's name in it's earliest form of Tutankhaton with his throne name of Nebkheperura. This means that the crook and flail have been passed down the family line.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that the flail was held in higher value than the crook as the flail was found in the Treasury which housed the expensive jewellery of the Pharaoh and other treasures needed in the afterlife. The crook was found in the Antechamber which was for the everyday needs like couches, beds, stools, statues, chests, baskets and boat models. Additionally, the family marking on the flail indicate that they recognised family history.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that the flail was held in higher value than the crook as the flail was found in the Treasury which housed the expensive jewellery of the Pharaoh and other treasures needed in the afterlife. The crook was found in the Antechamber which was for the everyday needs like couches, beds, stools, statues, chests, baskets and boat models. Additionally, the family marking on the flail indicate that they recognised family history.
Artefact #3 - Squatting King Pendant
This pendant is solid gold with a glass bead necklace. It is unknown to whom this pendant represents, Howard Carter thought it was a statuette of Amenhotpe lll. It was found wrapped in cloth in a small gilded coffin with two smaller coffins, one fitting inside the other. The innermost coffin bore the name of Amenhotpe lll wife, Queen Teye with a lock of her auburn hair. Carter suggested that the lock of hair was buried with Tutankhamun as an heirloom because he is in that particular line of Pharaohs.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
Like Tutankhamun's death mask this artefact shows a high level of skill by the craftsmen in shaping and moulding solid gold. The coloured glass beads, as opposed to a natural substance such as gold, shows that they understood how to work and manufacture a man-made substance that didn't occur naturally in their environment. Additionally, the pendant is holding a crook and flail which is the symbol of the throne of Osiris which tells us that they incorporated gods into their everyday items.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
Like Tutankhamun's death mask this artefact shows a high level of skill by the craftsmen in shaping and moulding solid gold. The coloured glass beads, as opposed to a natural substance such as gold, shows that they understood how to work and manufacture a man-made substance that didn't occur naturally in their environment. Additionally, the pendant is holding a crook and flail which is the symbol of the throne of Osiris which tells us that they incorporated gods into their everyday items.
Artefact #4 - Anubis Shrine
This shrine was found in the 'Store Room' of Tutankhamun's tomb. On top of the shrine the figure of the jackal represents the god Anubis. Anubis is the god of embalming and protector of the dead. The jackal is made from wood covered in black paint, the insides of the ears, the eyebrows, the rims of the eyes, the collar and the band knotted around the neck are all gold leaf. The whites of the eyes are made from calcite and the pupil from obsidian. The claws are made from silver, which in Ancient Egypt is more valuable than gold. At each end of the shrine are two poles which means that it was meant for a funerary procession.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that Ancient Egyptians believed in the gods and the jobs they performed as well. This speculates that they believed in the afterlife and the process of embalming. Silver in Ancient Egypt is more precious than gold which means they would chosen to use more expensive items for the shrines intended for their gods. Like the coloured glass, black paint isn't a natural substance which is commonly found. This means that they knew to mix water and a certain black material to make a paste-like paint to decorate their shrines/items of importance. The transportable nature of this shrine infers that they held some form of public procession to mark a Pharaoh's passings.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This artefact tells us that Ancient Egyptians believed in the gods and the jobs they performed as well. This speculates that they believed in the afterlife and the process of embalming. Silver in Ancient Egypt is more precious than gold which means they would chosen to use more expensive items for the shrines intended for their gods. Like the coloured glass, black paint isn't a natural substance which is commonly found. This means that they knew to mix water and a certain black material to make a paste-like paint to decorate their shrines/items of importance. The transportable nature of this shrine infers that they held some form of public procession to mark a Pharaoh's passings.
Artefact #5 - Tutankhamun's Gold Earrings
Earrings in Tutankhamun's time were a relatively recent innovation especially for royalty. Their popularity was thought to have started from the legacy of the Asiatic people from West Asia. At first earrings were not worn by men. To attach them to the pierced ears, a clasp was built in two pieces so it could be taken apart if necessary. Suspended on ring eyelets from the clasp are a figure of a hybrid bird with wings of a falcon and the head of a duck. The wings curve inwards meetings at the top to make a complete circle, in their claws they hold the shen sign for infinity. The wings and body are inlaid with quartz, calcite, coloured faience and blue, red, white and green glass. The duck heads are made of clear blue glass.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This particular item helps us understand that Amenhopte lll was married to a Mittanian princess from West Asia which was possibly the reason Egyptians started wearing earrings. At the time only the higher classes of people could afford to wear this recent fashion item. This also lets us know that the Ancient Egyptians used symbols to represent and mean different things to the people of the time.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This particular item helps us understand that Amenhopte lll was married to a Mittanian princess from West Asia which was possibly the reason Egyptians started wearing earrings. At the time only the higher classes of people could afford to wear this recent fashion item. This also lets us know that the Ancient Egyptians used symbols to represent and mean different things to the people of the time.
Artefact #6 - Faience Hippopotamus
This well constructed model of a hippo nicknamed 'William' by keen musuem visitors is crafted out of a ceramic material called 'faience'. This statuette demonstrates the Egyptian artists appreciation of the natural world. The body was painted with outlines of the river plants symbolising the marshes it lived in. Three of the hippos legs were broken (now restored) to protect the deceased, as the hippopotamus could harm them on their journey to the afterlife as it's one of Egypt's most dangerous animals.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This work of art helps us to understand how the artists back in Ancient Egyptian times chose and designed statues, pots and typical art. Furthermore the patterns on the statue indicate that the Ancient Egyptians took in their surroundings into their everyday art. Additionally some of the materials for faience are not found within Egypt which means trading must have occurred in the construction process.
Question: What does this artefact tell us about Ancient Egypt?
This work of art helps us to understand how the artists back in Ancient Egyptian times chose and designed statues, pots and typical art. Furthermore the patterns on the statue indicate that the Ancient Egyptians took in their surroundings into their everyday art. Additionally some of the materials for faience are not found within Egypt which means trading must have occurred in the construction process.
Designed and created by Alex Watters 7.1