Head of Ahmose I

Head of Ahmose I

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

For the Egyptians, two of their greatest kings were Mentuhotep II of Dynasty 11 (ca. 2051–2000 B.C.) and Ahmose I of Dynasty 18. Separated by five centuries, each of these rulers was responsible for reuniting Egypt after a period of disunity, one ushering in the Middle Kingdom and one the New Kingdom. This slightly over-lifesize head represents Ahmose I wearing the white crown, a symbol of upper Egypt. The face is broad and relatively flat, with a taut, smiling mouth. These features seem to be influenced by representations of Mentuhotep II whose statues still would have been prominent at Thebes in Ahmose's time, and it is no wonder that Ahmose chose to emulate his illustrious predecessor. The large, slanting, prominent eyes, however, convey an intensity that seems to herald the energetic Thutmoside style of Dynasty 18.

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Head of Ahmose IHead of Ahmose IHead of Ahmose IHead of Ahmose IHead of Ahmose I

The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.