Head of a Pharaoh

Head of a Pharaoh

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Head of a Pharaoh
Egypt; end Middle Kingdom; 2040-1640 BC

The head is made in light brown granite. Despite the traditional hierarchical manner of representation, the round face with high cheeks, full lips and slanted eyes placed near the nose show many individual characteristics. These features allow us to date it to the end of the Middle Kingdom. The pharaoh is wearing a ceremonial head-dress, a nemes headcloth. It is held on the forehead by a circlet in the centre of which is an ureaus, a female cobra, the neck-skin spread, ready for attack.