‘This Egyptian wooden figure of a lady sold for $845,000 in April, nearly doubling what it sold for in 1992,’ explains Max Bernheimer, Christie’s International Head of Antiquities. The remarkable piece, which is dated to between 1900 and 1800 B.C., demonstrated the strength of the market, while offering a fascinating insight into Ancient Egyptian tradition.
Made from exotic hardwood, the figure is an example of what is known as a ka statue, intended to provide a physical resting place for the ka, or spirit, of a person. The ka was believed to endure after death, and statues such as this were typically placed inside an offering chapel, a tomb or a coffin — the latter appearing for the first time in Egypt’s late Old Kingdom in the third millennium B.C.
A group of international researchers has discovered that the remains of a pair of mummified and fragmented legs that resided for over a century in Turin’s Egyptian Museum belonged to Nefertari, one of the most famous queens of Ancient Egypt: she was pharaoh Ramses II’s favorite wife. The study, authored by Michael E. Habicht of the University of Zurich, Raffaella Bianucci of the University of Turin, and other researchers, was published on PLOS ONE.
© REUTERS/ MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY
Here are the most significant Egyptian archaeological discoveries that made waves around the world in 2016:
- Oldest Ever Egyptian Papyri
- ‘Surprise' Discovery at Antiquities Dealers' Home
- Pharaoh Ramesses III Murder Intricacies and Postmortem Cosmetic Surgery
- Mummified Remains of the beautiful Queen Nefertari
- Secret Doorways Hidden in Tutankhamun's Tomb
It has been a busy year for historians and archaeologists who study the ancient Egyptian civilisation. Many exciting research projects have been taking place and a number of interesting discoveries have been made.
From secret chambers to hidden tattoos revealed on the skin of ancient mummies, IBTimes UK takes a look at the most important archaeological finds of the year.
Still Christmas shopping?
An ancient Egyptian goddess has transported you back to ancient Egypt! What happens next is up to YOU! Filled with excitement and hilarity, this compositional challenge lets you tell your very own story starring...YOU! Combining National Geographic Kids' photography and illustrations in colorful laugh-out-loud pages, this engaging, entertaining, and educational book introduces you to this amazing ancient civilization, and invites you to enter a new world imaginatively by combining your story with theirs.
Royal jubilees, towering pyramids, face painting, and jewelry making? The sky's the limit when you spend the day in ancient Egypt! Picture this: You get out of bed and, as you go to brush your teeth, you suddenly realize that you've traveled back in time over 4,500 years to ancient Egypt. The sun is shining, the Nile River is almost flooding, and everywhere you look, humongous pyramids are being erected. You have a strong hunch that it's going to be a truly amazing day. You'll spend the day with a family in the land of Giza during the Fourth Dynasty and learn all about Egyptian culture with loads of exotic and fun-filled activities.
Or, for those who really want to drive themselves crazy, consider the the fact that Amazon can cater to all your .. ahem.. refined Egyptian Christmas needs from papyrus bookmarks to Abayas to mummy excavation kits. Click here for a link to a list of Amazon Egyptian products.
Scientists at Zurich-based DNA genealogy center, iGENEA, have reconstructed the DNA profile of King Tut, his father Akhenaten and grandfather Amenhotep III.
Researchers discovered that King Tut belonged to a genetic profile group known as haplogroup R1b1a2. More than 50 per cent of all men in Western Europe belong to this genetic group as do up to 70 per cent of British men. But among modern-day Egyptians, less than 1 per cent of residents belong to this haplogroup, according to scientists.
Photo of the Week: Mouse God Egypt
This photo is from Kara Cooney's Facebook page.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.