Royal Portraiture in Ancient Egypt


GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In Egypt, portraits of royal figures followed pictorial conventions such as the nemes head cloth and false beard to indicate royalty. Egyptian rulers were represented as eternally strong and youthful in royal portraits as seen in the DMA's portrait of Seti I (1984.50) where the pharoah is depicted as a vital, muscular man even though he was older at the time the portrait was sculpted. Because Egyptians believed that images had the power to grant eternal life to their subjects, important figures like Seti I were carved in durable materials like hard black granite.

Adapted from
"Head and upper torso of Seti I," DMA Connect, Dallas Museum of Art.

NOTES

ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS (list applicable note links)

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS  

IMAGE ASSETS 

WEB RESOURCES 

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES (digitized/non-digitized)

FUN FACTS 

TEACHING IDEAS 

RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1984.50

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General Description
In Egypt, portraits of royal figures followed pictorial conventions such as the nemes head cloth and false beard to indicate royalty. Egyptian rulers were represented as eternally strong and youthful in royal portraits as seen in the DMA's portrait of Seti I (1984.50) where the pharoah is depicted as a vital, muscular man even though he was older at the time the portrait was sculpted. Because Egyptians believed that images had the power to grant eternal life to their subjects, important figures like Seti I were carved in durable materials like hard black granite.

Adapted from
"Head and upper torso of Seti I," DMA Connect, Dallas Museum of Art.

Fun Facts
 
Archival Resources
(digitized/non-digitized)
Web Resources
 

Notes

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1984.50
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
*Classical Art
@Bowling
king: AAT: 300025481
royalty (nobility): AAT: 300188750
portrait: AAT: 300015637
Egyptian (ancient): AAT: 300020251
Egypt (ancient): TGN: 7014986
pharaohs: AAT: 300150507
source file
cultures_and_traditions-0022.xml.nores