NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, REIGN OF AMENHOTEP IV, CIRCA 1350 B.C.

Details

AN EGYPTIAN SANDSTONE TALATAT RELIEF
NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, REIGN OF AMENHOTEP IV, CIRCA 1350 B.C.
Sculpted in sunk relief, preserving the Pharaoh in profile to the left beneath the extended rays of the Aten, wearing a bag wig and a kilt low on his hips, his torso nude, his abdomen protruding, with an elongated neck and limbs, and a pointed chin, all in the characteristic style of the period, a hieroglyphic inscription before him, reading: "[Great Living Disk] Who is in Jubilee, Lord of Heaven and Who resides in Gem-[pa-Aten]," and behind him a cartouche, reading: "[In his name of Shu] Who is in/as the Disk," and another abraded line, reading: "[Great Living Disk] Who is in [Jubilee], Lord of Heaven and Earth Who resides in Gem-pa-[Aten];" preserving some red and black pigment
7¼ in. (18.4 cm.) wide

Provenance

Private Collection, U.S., 1966 or earlier.
Acquired by the current owner in Sun Valley, Idaho, 2011.

Brought to you by

Molly Morse Limmer

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Lot Essay

The style and inscription on this relief suggest a date in year 3 of Amenhotep IV's reign (later known as Akhenaten). The Gempaaten temple, mentioned in the inscription, was the largest building project in Thebes during the early period of his reign before he moved his capital to Tel el Amarna (see pp. 55ff. in Freed, Markowitz and D'Auria, Pharaohs of the Sun). Its location was established by modern excavators on previously "unoccupied alluvial land" in East Karnak. The scene depicted, together with the formulaic text, "Great Living Disk Who is in Jubilee, refers to the Pharaoh's first sed-festival, "a royal ritual as old as the monarchy itself" which "re-enacted the king's coronation." For a relief of Amenhotep IV in his jubilee cloak see fig. 37, p. 56, op. cit.

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