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Menat necklace from Malqata

New Kingdom
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 119
A menat necklace consists of a heavy, keyhole-shaped counterpoise (menat) and many strands of beads. Although the necklace is sometimes shown being worn (fig. 2 above), it was more often carried by females participating in religious ceremonies. It functioned as a percussion instrument that was shaken to create a soothing noise that was thought to appease a god or goddess. In the New Kingdom the menat necklace and sistrum (68.44) were attributes of women who held the title "Singer of Amun-Re" such as Renenutet, who is depicted holding her menat on her lap in a statue.

In the early 20th century, the Museum conducted excavations at Malqata, a site at the southern end of the Theban necropolis where Amenhotep III had built a festival city for the celebration of his three jubilees (or heb seds). This miraculously preserved menat necklace and two single-strand necklaces of beads and amulets were found in the corner of a room in a private house near the King's Palace. According to the excavators, the three necklaces had been placed in a linen bag, traces of which were still visible.

Link to a blog about the Museum's excavations at Malqata
The Met's Joint Mission to Malqata

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Menat necklace from Malqata
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: reign of Amenhotep III
  • Date: ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Malqata, Birket Habu Mound B 1, Private House B, MMA excavations, 1911–12
  • Medium: Faience, bronze or copper alloy, glass, agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise
  • Dimensions: L. of counterpoise 14.7 cm (5 13/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1911
  • Object Number: 11.215.450
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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