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Head of King Seti II Wearing the Blue Crown

New Kingdom, Ramesside
ca. 1200–1194 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 123
This elegant head originally belonged with the body of a statue that still stands in the great Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun at Karnak whose inscriptions show that the statue had been carved for Seti II. Although resemblances in features are not particularly close, the rather severe tone of the head finds echoes in certain Theban statuary of Merneptah. Two uraei wearing red crowns are carved in relief on the proper left side of the king's crown in front of the ears, and two wearing white crowns are carved on the right side. Since the red crown is associated with Southern (Upper) Egypt and the white crown with Northern (Lower) Egypt, this may indicate that the statue itself was oriented by these coordinates and faced the east. Traces of pigment on the surface of the head indicate that the crown was painted blue, the band where it fits the forehead along with the crown's uraeus were colored with yellow ochre, and the face was red.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Head of King Seti II Wearing the Blue Crown
  • Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 19
  • Reign: reign of Seti II
  • Date: ca. 1200–1194 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Karnak, Temple of Amun, Hypostyle Hall
  • Medium: Quartzite, paint
  • Dimensions: H. 44.5 × W. 30.5 × D. 34.5 cm (17 1/2 × 12 × 13 9/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1934
  • Object Number: 34.2.2
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 3475. Head of King Amenmesse Wearing the Blue Crown

3475. Head of King Amenmesse Wearing the Blue Crown

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