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Purpose
The portraits survived to this day, had religious,
funerary purposes.
Served to immortalize the dead, just as the
mummification of the body was supposed to.
Statues of pharaohs represented more than just the
man - embodying the idea of divine kingship.
Generally carved from harder material than statues of
ordinary mortals, carved for eternity.
The artists tried to express how the pharaoh wanted
to be seen and remembered - or at least that is how
we interpret it:
Anubis
Images are frequently identified by inscription. Resemblance with the depicted was not
necessary, though often attempted in statuary and to a lesser extent in paintings.
How important resemblance was can be estimated by comparing portraits of the same person by different artists
Amenhotep III
How important resemblance was can be estimated by comparing figures belonging to the same group, where the differences between the
individuals should be noticeable:
Eyes inlayed with shining quartz or shells etc to make it look as alive as possible
The classical posture, during the Old Kingdom, is rigid, facing straight ahead, arms
held close to the body, standing or pacing, sitting, more rarely kneeling or squatting perhaps mostly the result of the stone working techniques of the day.
Amenemhet III
Wooden statues, where limbs could be added and the basic block form was not
adhered to, were more animated.
Wood
Stone
Diorite
Nenkheftka
Here the Egyptian sculptures Cubic view of the human appears clearly.
Queen Nefertiti
Pepi I kneeling
Prince Tjau
Headrest
Hemiunu seated
Beer maker
Butcher
Scribe
Pallet
Mummified cat
Abu Simbel
Abydos, Seti