Egyptian Museum's 'piece of the month' contest looks to military history for October
Nevine El-Aref, Monday 26 Sep 2016
This month's contest on Facebook highlights the role of the Egyptian army during ancient history


To mark the anniversary of the 6 October victory in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the Egyptian Museum has selected nine artefacts from its collection that highlight the Egyptian army in ancient times to be put to the vote on Facebook for its “October piece of the month.”

The director-general of the museum, Sabah Abdel-Razek, explained that the selected objects show the role of the Egyptian army during ancient times and the weapons they used in their battles against invaders.

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The selected artefacts are diverse and include a group of Egyptian lancers carved in wood from the tomb of Prince Mesehti in Assiut; a limestone statue of the 11th dynasty Theban Antef, chief general of King Mentuhotep II, seated and wearing a wig; and an alabaster statue of the 18th dynasty King Tuthmosis III, who created the largest empire that ancient Egypt had ever seen, conducting seventeen army campaigns.

The statue shows the king kneeling offering nu pots and wearing the nemes, the famous pharaonic striped headdress, and the ureaus, the snake ornament worn by Egyptian pharaohs.

Another artefact included is one of King Tutankhamun’s eight shields, which shows the king holding a scimitar ready to kill two lions.

Also included are the head of Nakhtmin, chief general from the reign of Tutankhamun, and a statue of Nakhtmin and his wife Tiy, seated with an offering table in front of them.

Two limestone ostraca from the 19th and 20th dynasties are also among the selected objects. One shows King Ramses IV on his chariot catching Syrians and Africans, with a lion attacking another Syrian captive. On the back of the ostracom a bull is depicted.

The second depicts King Ramses IX with two prisoners. Beside him the god Amun holds out a falcon and gives him an ankh and was sceptre in support.

Coins representing military victory and the courage of the army are also featured.

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