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Hands offering Aten cartouches (upper part of cartouches are a cast of British Museum EA 58471)

New Kingdom, Amarna Period
ca. 1352–1336 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 899
This unusual piece is composed of eight fragments, including a cast of one piece now in the British Museum; all of the pieces were found in the Sanctuary of the Great Aten Temple or in the dump south of the Sanctuary area of the temple. The double cartouches of the Aten's early name are presented by the two hands of a figure that is now missing.

Karnak reliefs depicted the king at a window of appearance presenting / proclaiming the 'didactic' names of the Aten with this gesture. These hands and cartouches in a very fine indurated limestone appear to have belonged to a very special statue at Amarna reiterating this presentation.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hands offering Aten cartouches (upper part of cartouches are a cast of British Museum EA 58471)
  • Period: New Kingdom, Amarna Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: reign of Akhenaten
  • Date: ca. 1352–1336 BCE
  • Geography: From Egypt, Middle Egypt, Amarna (Akhetaten), Great Temple of the Aten, pit outside southern wall, Petrie/Carter excavations, 1891–92
  • Medium: Indurated limestone
  • Dimensions: Max.: H. 25 × W. 19.5 × D. 17 cm, 5.4 kg (9 13/16 × 7 11/16 × 6 11/16 in., 11.8 lb.);Stela: H. 20 × W. 14 × D. 6.5 cm (7 7/8 × 5 1/2 × 2 9/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1921
  • Object Number: 21.9.431
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Arm with Aten cartouches belonging with 21.9.431, Indurated limestone
Arm with Aten cartouches belonging with 21.9.431
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.
Part of 21.9.431, Indurated limestone
Part of 21.9.431
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.
Part of 21.9.431, Indurated limestone
Part of 21.9.431
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.
see 21.9.431, Indurated limestone
see 21.9.431
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.
see 21.9.431, Indurated limestone
see 21.9.431
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.

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