Cleveland Museum of Art

Head of Amenhotep III Wearing the Round Wig

Date: c. 1391–1353 BCE
Medium: brown quartzite
Culture: Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BCE)
Department: Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art
Object ID: 136942

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

Although he must have been nearly 50 years old when this portrait was carved, Amenhotep III appears more youthful than ever. Over a round, curly wig he wears a diadem with side streamers adorned with cobras bearing sun disks on their heads. The stone quartzite was associated with the sun on account of its ruddy hues, ranging in color from brown to red to purple. It was a favorite of Amenhotep III, the king who called himself the "dazzling sun-disk of all lands." Amenhotep wears a chin strap that would have held up a false beard.

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Provenance & credit

As published by the source institution. Coverage varies — not every institution's open-data feed includes ownership history.

Credit line: Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
Provenance: ?-1961: Mrs. Paul Mallon, New York, Sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art. | 1961-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Part of a LinkedCulture topic

Ancient Egyptian Personal Objects
These objects are cosmetic implements and grooming tools from ancient Egypt, including mirrors, palettes for grinding pigments, and decorative knives, representing daily life and personal adornment practices.
476 objects from 5 institutions