HEAD OF A STATUETTE WITH DOUBLE FEATHER CROWN. 1355 BC. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18. She became the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III. Mother of Akhenaten and grandmother of Tutankhamun. Her mummy was identified as “The Elder Lady” found in the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV35) in 2010. The artist produced a realistic face which captures the personality of Tiy: Intelligent, determined and assertive, all qualities which are also evident through historic-literary sources. After the death of Amenhotep III and still in the lifetime of Tiy the head was reworked, the originally head scarf of silver with the gold uraeus was covered with several layers of linen which were decorated with small faience beads. A crown consisting of a sundisc, cow horns and a pair of feathers was added separately. This type of crown is usually worn by goddesses or deified queens. By adding this crown to the statue Akhenaton raised his mother, already in her lifetime, into the realm of a goddess.
3 comments