- Title: Egypt: Ancient Portrait
- Date: 1st May 1995
- Summary: French archaeologists working near Cairo have found a rare example of a full-face portrait in ancient Egyptian art. The piece is one of very few known from tens of thousands of representations spread over 2,000 years. Alain Zivie, director of the French mission at Saqqara, said the archaeologists came across the portrait while clearing out late masonry from part of the tomb of Aper-El, an official under the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten. The bas-relief portrait is of Osiris, the god of the Underworld, flanked by the two goddesses Isis and Nephthys. It stands in a niche which probably had some cult function. They are carved full-face. It's difficult to explain and of importance to art history, this was partially defaced 20 to 30 years after his death, in the 14th century BC, and the Osiris relief was carved on top. The French mission also explored deeper into another New Kingdom tomb, discovering an unusual pair of statues of granary chief Mery-Sekhmet and his wife. The New Kingdom (about 1570 to 1080 BC) was the time when ancient Egypt reached the peak of its power, running an empire that stretched at times from Sudan to northern Syria. The statues are very important, Zivie said. NOTE: Date is approximate. This clip may contain footage from multiple events; exact date or dates may be unknown.
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- Location: EGYPT CAIRO
- Reuters ID: LDL001224HK57
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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