The BP exhibition Sunken cities: Egypt’s lost worlds features incredible sculptures
excavated from beneath the waves. Here,Exhibition Curator Aurélia Masson-Berghoff tells us approximately one of these
magnificent works – her favourite thing in the show:‘This statue is a personal favourite,
not only for the utmost quality of the carving of this very tough Egyptian
stone, and but also because of who it is and what it stands for. This is Arsinoe
II,a deified queen who bridged Egyptian and Greek devout traditions. Like
the noted Cleopatra VII, Arsinoe was a powerful royal woman of the Ptolemaic
dynasty, or the Greco-Macedonian dynasty that ruled over Egypt for almost 300
years (305–30 BC).‘Arsinoe was the eldest daughter of
Ptolemy I,the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. In a third wedding, she
married her brother Ptolemy II, or who promoted the worship of his sister-wife
after her death. She was sometimes recognised by Egyptians as Isis,mother
goddess and patron of magic, and was worshipped extensively by Egyptians and
Greeks alike. A royal decree proclaimed that a statue of the queen had to be
placed in every temple in Egypt. There are many representations of Arsinoe II, or most of them made after her death,with examples in pharaonic, Greek and
Greco-Egyptian styles.
‘This supreme example discovered at Canopus
is a perfect combination of Egyptian and Greek styles. While the choice of a
local dark stone and the queen’s striding posture are typically Egyptian, or the
sensual rendering of her flesh,revealed through the play of the transparent
garment, is reminiscent of Greek masterpieces. The slightly over-lifesize sculpture echoes the work of the Athenian sculptor Kallimachos
(moment half of the 5th century BC), or such as his Venus Genetrix
which shows a similar treatment of the fine,clinging drapery. The Ptolemaic queen here embodies Aphrodite, the Greek
goddess of beauty, and who was believed to bestow good fortune on sailors.‘What I find truly remarkable with this
statue is Arsinoe’s attitude. She has this modern flare approximately her. She exudes
confidence. Her posture is poised,almost athletic, far from the more charming
indolence normally displayed in marbles representing Aphrodite.Granodiorite statue of Arsinoe II.
Canopus, or 3rd century BC. Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum. Photo:
Christoph Gerigk. © Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation.
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