#middle kingdom

[egypt-museum]

Statue of Queen Nofret

Two identical statues of Nofret were discovered at Tanis. They had been taken there after the end of the New Kingdom, more than a millennium after they were made.

Excavation of Emmanuel de Rougé during the winter of 1863-1864. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. CG 382

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[theancientwayoflife]

~ Wig rings of Sithathoryunet.

Period: Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty; Reign of Senwosret II–Amenemhat III

Date: ca. 1887–1813 B.C.

Place of origin: Egypt, Fayum Entrance Area, Lahun, Tomb of Sithathoryunet (BSA Tomb 8), BSAE excavations 1914

Medium: Gold

[lionofchaeronea]

Ancient Egyptian wooden model of a cow with her nursing calf, made in the 11th or 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom (= ca. 2030-1850 BCE). Excavated at Asyut (Lycopolis) between 1910 and 1914. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[artifacts-archive]

Nile Catfish Pendant

Egyptian, ca. 1985-1773 BCE (Middle Kingdom, 12th dynasty)

This fish pendant represents a Synodontis Batensoda, more commonly known as the Nile catfish, a species of fish named for its black belly. Often worn at the end of a plait of hair, amulets like this one were used by children and young women to protect against drowning. This fine amulet is made of gold with stone inlays, including a red stone for the right eye and a green stone for the left. Amulets in the form of the Synodontis Batensoda were particularly popular during the Middle Kingdom, when the fish might have been identified with an astronomical constellation.

[toyastales]

Beautiful Egyptian Faience Hippopotamus (2040-1638 BC); Middle Kingdom, ancient Egypt.

This statuette of a hippopotamus (popularly called "William") was molded in faience, a ceramic material made of ground quartz. A glass-like material associated with rebirth, Egyptian faience was often used to make grave goods, such as this hippopotamus.

[blueiscoool]

AN EGYPTIAN GESSO-PAINTED WOOD FUNERARY MODEL OF A BOAT MIDDLE KINGDOM, 11TH-12TH DYNASTY, 2087-1759 B.C.

[dwellerinthelibrary]

A Middle Kingdom pectoral with Horus and Set as sphinxes. Formerly displayed at the Met.

[tunathena]

My Chinese teacher just told me that in daoism people would commit suicide because if they died in unjust circumstances they could haunt the living and I think that’s what Cato was doing actually.

[skf-fineart]

Head of a Statue of the God Sobek Shedeti

Egypt, Middle Kingdom, ca. 1859-1802 B.C.

Limestone, 21 7/16 × 20 1/16 × 18 7/8 in.

[bagdemagus]

Model of workers grinding grain and butchering cattle Egypt, Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030-1650 BCE)

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen

[rudjedet]

You've all seen the 4th Dynasty beadnet dress now, but what if I could further interest you in the 12th Dynasty faience beadwork apron of Senebtisi:

The apron is made out of faience beads in various shapes. The two sides have distinct motifs: the right side (viewer's left) is made from long round tube beads with lotus-shaped beads at the top beneath the belt, and the left side consists of elongated barrel beads separated by dogbone beads, topped with papyrus-shaped beads.

The sides are separated by a gold-coloured, rectangular buckle carrying Senebtisi's name in hieroglyphs (read from right to left) at the front, and by a gold-capped tail comprised of small rondelle beads at the back.

Not much is known about Senebtisi. She was buried at Lisht with a large array of expensive grave goods, and this apron could potentially indicate a royal connection.

[egypt-museum]

Blue Faience Hedgehog

Hedgehogs had a favourable reputation in ancient Egypt, and were often seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life. This was likely due to their reappearances after long periods of absence while hibernating.

Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, ca. 1900 BC. Now in the Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin. 10250

Photo: Sandra Steiß

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Bracelet.

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Middle Kingdom; 12th Dynasty

Date: ca. 1900 B.C.

Place of origin: El-Kubanija North, grave 15 l 1, (Grave of a girl)

Medium: Faience, blue-green

[ancientstuff]

Fantastic find. The cursive hieroglyphs of the Coffin Texts are beautiful here.

[artifacts-archive]

Protective Figure of Aha-Bes

Egyptian, ca. 1800-1750 BCE (Middle Kingdom, 13th dynasty)

Resembling the protective deity Bes, this benevolent demon holds a snake in each hand, symbolizing his ability to ward off the bites and stings of venomous creatures. The figure has the proportions of a dwarf, the head, mane and tail of a lion, and human eyes. Similar figures to this one were depicted on magical wands of the Middle Kingdom. The details of the figure, such as the eyes, mane, nipples, and the snakes are marked with dark blue lines and dots.

[fullslack]

cosmetic box of the Royal Butler Kemeni (Middle Kingdom Egypt, c. 1805 BCE)