Egyptian Art 2700 BC-200 AD

Pyramids had their practical importance in the eyes of the kings and their subjects. The king was considered a divine being who held sway over them, and on his departure from this earth he would again ascend to the gods whence he had come. The pyramids soaring up to the sky would probably help him to make his ascent. In any case they would preserve his sacred body from decay.


Standing man
Early Fourth Dynasty
Painted quartzite
Height 89.5 cm (35 1/4 in)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

 

Two bracelets of Queen Hetep-heres I
Fourth Dynasty
Silver, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and carnelian
Left: diameter 9 cm (3 5/8 in), width 2.4 cm (1 in)
Right: diameter 8.8 cm (3 1/2 in), width 2.4 cm (1 in)
Egyptian Museum, Cairo

 

Head of King Djedefre
Fourth Dynasty, reign of Djedefre
Red quartzite with remains of paint
Height: 26.5 cm (10 3/8 in)
Width: 28,8 cm (11 3/8 in)
Depth: 38.5 cm (15 1/4 in)
Musee du Louvre, Paris

Hemiunu seated
Fourth Dynasty, later reign of Khufu
Limestone with remains of paint
Height: 155.5 cm (61 1/4 in)
Width: 61.5 cm (24 1/4 in)
Depth: 104.7 cm (41 1/4 in)
Roemer-und Pelizaeus-Museum, Hildesheim

 

King Khafre seated
Fourth Dynasty, reign of Khafre
Graywacke
Height: 120 cm (47 1/4 in)
Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Pair statue of Memi and Sabu standing
Fourth Dynasty
Limestone with remains of paint
Height: 62 cm (24 3/8 in)
Width: 24.5 cm (9 3/8 in)
Depth: 15.2 cm (6 in)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

 

King Menkaure and a Queen
Fourth Dynasty, reign of Menkaure
Graywacke with faint remains of paint
Height: 139 cm (54 3/4 in)
Width: 57 cm (22 1/2 in)
Depth: 54 cm (21 1/4 in)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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