Cleveland Museum of Art

Head of Queen Hatshepsut (?)

Date

c. 1479–1457 BCE

Medium

graywacke

Culture

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Hatshepsut (c. 1479–1458 BCE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Tuthmosis III was still a child when he came to the throne, so his stepmother and aunt, Hatshepsut, assumed the reins of government, first as regent, then as full-fledged king beside him. This beautiful head represents either Hatshepsut or Tuthmosis III, whose facial features are notoriously difficult to tell apart. They ruled together for 22 years, and presumably the same sculptors worked for them both. Very likely the sculptors themselves did not know whose statue they were working on until the final inscription was added.

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