More pictures of Amenhotep III's hundreds of Sekhmet statues. Perhaps no other deity or even any pharaoh had more large stone statues than this extraordinary collection of Sekhmet statues Amenhotep dedicated to her, possibly to protect his own health and that of Egypt in a time of epidemic disease

Sekhmet's power over disease and plague made the Egyptians take care to appease her. Amenhotep III, Tutankhamun's grandfather, suffered bad health in his later life and an epidemic disease spread across the ancient world around this time as records from different civilizations report. To appease Sekhmet, Amenhotep III had his sculptors carve several hundred granite statues of Seth met, life sized and larger. Many were found in the temple complex of the goddess Mut at Karnak in ancient Thebes where this lion goodies was worshiped as Mut's alter ego. Dozens of these statues are found in museums around the world. Dozens more remain in Egypt in museums and at Karnak temple. The quality of these statues is very fine #mythology #ancienthistory #Amenhotep #Egypt

This gold pectoral necklace was originally made for the female pharaoh Neferneferuaten who was one of Akhenaten's wives. The most likely candidate are his senior wife Nefertiti or possibly their daughter Merietaten. Like everything about the Amarna period this is controversial, but it is clear the cartouche on this necklace were altered and the original name was Neferneferuaten. I think Nefertiti is the most likely identity of this female pharaoh. "Nefertiti's full name was "Nefertiti-Neferneferuaten" Photo shows clear reworking of the cartouches and Egyptologist Marc Gabolde first proved that the original name was "Neferneferuaten-she-who-is-beneficial-for-her-husband" It is one of dozens of objects from Tutankhamun's tomb that were recycled when Neferneferuaten fell from favor after her death. #Egypt #Egyptology #archaeology #ancient #Tutankhamun #archaeohistories #Amarna #history #jewelry #gold

Ptah's statue is gilded with a slightly red gold likely made by small amounts of copper and possibly iron. Red was a solar color for the anc Egyptians. Red gold was especially popular in the later 18th Dynasty and many gold and gilded objects in Tutankh tomb. #Egypt #archaeohistories #gold #mythology #ancient #Tutankhamun #Tutankhamen

Ramesses II dedicated this colossal group statue of Ptah, Sekhmet and his deified self to celebrate his Heb Sed festivals, the Egyptian royal "jubilee" which was traditionally celebrated in Memphis, home of Ptah and Sekhmet. The pedestal is engraved with the basket shaped hieroglyph for "festival". Sekhmet's eyes are deeply carved and may have held inlays of metal, alabaster and semi precious gem stones, giving her a more lifelike appearance. The only squat proportions were not because the artists lacked talent. Ramesses had the statue made from a huge block of recycled stone that was originally the square pedestal of an obelisk made by an earlier king. #Ramesses #Ramses #Ptah #Sekhmet #Memphis #mythology #Egypt #goddess

Sekhmet, or Sakhmet, was the lion headed goddes representing the scorching heat of the sun. Her name means "She who is Powerful" a dangerous goddess she was identified with the Eye of Re, the cobra goddess who spat liquid fire at the Sun god Re's enemies. Sekhmet was also the goddess of plague and disease. She was consort of Ptah & their cult was centered at Memphis. This exquisite gilded wooden statue is from Tutankhamun's tomb #goddess #mythology #Egypt #ancient #archaeological #archaeohistories #history #Tutankhamun