Head of a Kushite Ruler
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Kushite royal statues, particularly examples from Upper Egypt, emphasize the foreign, non-Egyptian origin of their subjects. This head, perhaps of King Shabaqa, shows the ruler with a broad, nearly round face characteristic of the Kushite people. His regalia also reflects Kushite influence, and his shortly cropped hair—bound by a broad headband—is a feature never seen on native Egyptian sculpture. A knob, now gone, at the front of the headband once accommodated two uraeus cobras. On statues of kings, the double cobra is uniquely Kushite as well.
MEDIUM
Green schist
DATES
ca. 716-702 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 25
PERIOD
Third Intermediate Period
DIMENSIONS
2 3/4 x 2 1/16 x 2 9/16 in. (7 x 5.3 x 6.5 cm)
mount: 2 3/4 × 2 × 7 in. (7 × 5.1 × 17.8 cm)
(show scale)
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
ACCESSION NUMBER
60.74
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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CAPTION
Egyptian. Head of a Kushite Ruler, ca. 716-702 B.C.E. Green schist, 2 3/4 x 2 1/16 x 2 9/16 in. (7 x 5.3 x 6.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.74. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.74_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 60.74_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Head of a king in unidentified green stone, originally furnished with back pillar. Full, almost square face with eyes and brows originally inlaid, bull neck. Skin areas polished scalp area dull and covered with close fitting ‘cap’ with small, rounded flaps near ears; uraeus with wide curve.
Condition: Inlays lost, right eyelid chipped. Ears slightly chipped. Headdress apparently has been hammered though possibly it was covered with metal fitting in antiquity.
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