Original: Limestone, Plaster cast replica
Original: 1341 BCE
Egypt
Gipsformerei, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt
Theme
Empire: Projecting Power
Subtheme
Seeing the Ruler / Royal Portraiture
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Gipsformerei, Egypt
Description
Probably the most famous image of the ancient world: Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, who may have ruled jointly with her husband. We know little of her personal life, but her assured, serene portrait (vividly painted as all ancient sculptures once were) has been widely admired since its rediscovery in the early 20th century. True to her name, ‘the beautiful one has come forth’, Nefertiti’s portrait has achieved its purpose to keep her memory alive.




