01 | Statue of the Pharoah Tutankhamun

This statue is fit for a king.

His image has been carved out of granodiorite, known for its high polish and the beauty of its crystalline rock.

The skill of the sculptor is evident in the straight lines of the figure’s clothing and the soft curves of the body, polished just enough for the light to touch the stone at the perfect angle.

Among the very few in Egypt able to commission such statues were the royal family.

The royal figure here sits on a throne.

He is dressed in a finely pleated short kilt and a thin shirt, with a collar adorned with tiny flower petals.

Although the head is missing, the ritual false beard, an element only worn by pharaohs, survives.

It mimicked the beard of the god Osiris, who ruled the underworld, and here it represents eternal dominion.

Another symbol of royalty can be found on the statue.

See the vertical line etched between the knees? This is part of the animal tail attached to a pharaoh’s kilt.

Likely the tail of a bull, it represents strength and virility.

So, who does this statue represent?

Look to the back of the statue for a broken pillar with hieroglyphs.

Enough remains to tell us that the figure represented by this statue was, ‘Beloved of Amun-Re, lord of the thrones of the two lands, who is endowed with life like Re, forever’.

But what was his name?

At the top of the pillar are remnants of an oval-shaped hieroglyph known as the cartouche.

The cartouche was only used to enclose the names of pharaohs, shielding it to ensure eternal life and divine authority.

Features such as the artistic style, the clothing worn by the figure and the inscription, all suggest that this statue portrays one of the most recognisable of the Egyptian pharaohs:

the young king, Tutankhamun.

The discovery of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 was one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

The fascination with Tutankhamun and his tomb created a ‘Tutmania’ that inspired people to learn more about ancient Egypt.

But this statue was found long before the tomb.

It was given to the Dutch Royal Family in 1869 as thanks for their involvement in the construction of the Suez Canal.

They donated it to the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in 1928.

Here today, we continue to admire the artistry of the ancient Egyptian sculptors and the legacy of the young king.