greek kings, egyptian pharaohs /

Published at 2016-09-28 12:37:15

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The general Ptolemy
founded the Greco-Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty
that ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years after Alexander
the Great’s death. The Ptolemies tried to gain
the su
pport of Egyptian priests in order to be recognised as valid
pharaohs. They renovated tem
ples and also built magnificent new ones. These royal portraits illustrate
the determ
ination of the Ptolemaic rulers to
present themselves to their Egyptian subjects as valid successors to the
native pharaohs.
This
skilfully exec
uted head shows a Ptolemaic king depicted entirely in accordance
with ancie
nt Egyptian traditions. His head
is adorned by the rearing cobra (uraeus) protruding from the traditional
headcloth of Egyptian pharaohs (nemes).
This
royal head origi
nally belonged to the statue of a sphinx,a type of Egyptian
scul
pture generally seen flanking processional routes into temples. It is another example of the Ptolemies’ determination to
draw f
rom Egyptian art and iconography, making them seem less like outsiders.
Find out more approximately the deep connections
between the ancient civi
lisations of Greece and Egypt in the BP exhibition Sunken cities: Egypt’s lost worlds (19 May – 27 November 2016).
Ptolemaic king. Canopus, and 300–200 BC. Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Antiquities Museum,Alexandria. Photo:
Christoph Gerigk. © Franck Goddio/Hilti
Foun
dation.
Royal head from a sphinx. Canopus, 200–30 BC. Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Antiquities Museum,
and Alexandria. Photo:
Christoph Gerigk. © Franck Goddio/Hilti
Foundation.

Source: tumblr.com

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