Good Luck for 2012

Happy New Year to all of you.


I wish all of you the very best.

Regards,

 

Two Tombs Attributed to Tuthmosis I: KV20 & KV38 by Sjef Willockx

The following document is made available at www.egyptology.nl:


Two Tombs Attributed to Tuthmosis I: KV20 & KV38 by Sjef Willockx, 2011

I hope you are enjoying the weekend. TV is pretty awful, although i recorded a Hatshepsut documentary - so not all bad.

Thanks to Sjef for the new link to your work. This document is something which i hope to comment on further in the future. It brings together many things discussed in the past, but with a new set of eyes.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Project- 2012. A Request for Help

I posted the following in our Facebook Group, "Hatshepsut Project" today:

2012 - Hatshepsut Project. it would be great to have a show of hands before we hit 2012- to see who would be interested in co-ordinating or helping towards a "Hatshepsut Projet Photographic Database". I know some of you have done this in the past, but i have been so busy outside the Project to do anything significant online recently. It is, to dat,e just an idea. For a moment, forget about me and consider how much time you have to spend and whether or not you have the available resources to help produce something significant for the world to see. Although i have my own ideas, i would rather open it up to all of you. I have (more than) reached my limit on the work i can produce and extend my hands out to you all. The icing on the cake for me would be to have an Egyptologist (more if the offers are forthcoming) to oversee parts of the photographc database that would include translation/ transliteration and any insight beyone that which i myself can produce. As all work within the Hatshepsut Project (and its spin-offs) are free to all - any help will be on a voluntary basis. For that reason, i appreciate many of you will be tied up on other projects. Nevertheless, we have no other database online which we can consider "competition" and i really feel that this may be an opportunity for us all to put that right. As with all of our Projects, we will try to create something new, significant and something which everyone can use for future studies of Hatshepsut. This is the place to ask questions, so please feel free.
Thank you all for being a part of this Project. Phil Stewart, Rita Murray - let me tae this opportunity to thank you publicly for your help. I apologise for not being great with correspondance, but i am always here if you need me.

The request for help is for all. If you feel you may be able to help in some way with the above photographic project then please let me know. I am over- stretched with the Museum Database, so cannot offer my time at present. For this reason and that of obtaining all the help i can get - i thought it best to share with everyone who has been following the progress of the Hatshepsut Project.

Thank you for all the support in 2011. Its been a wonderful year for the Project. We are growing at a pace with new ideas, new followers and i am certainly a lot more confident with my own work than i was before starting this blog 18 (or so) months ago. I am happy to report that we are seen all across the globe and have been spending some time on seeing where people find out about us. To my surprise and pleasure we have been noted in blogs, forums and other sources which have no link to me. This shows me that there is a need to keep going. Hatshepsut is very popular it seems.

I still find it unbelievable that Dr Lesers site is to date the only Hatshepsut- dedicated website of note. Whether that's due to the superb work of Dr Leser (which is my own reason for continually visiting) or something quite different- i have no idea. Come to think of it- can any of you name any site dedicated to Thutmose III- or Senenmut? I mean in the way Dr. Leser has done? Perhaps that is something to look at for the future. I love the idea of eventually growing to be the "Thutmoside Project". The reality is that i am one man, with very limited education (in the fields) and spare time (you can blame Hatshepsut directly for that). I do not wish for any of the Hatshepsut Projects (or future spin-offs) to be hurried "for the sake of it" Projects, so for now - we will keep as we are. 

I will try to find some "new" angles for 2012. As much as this blog has been quieter than i am used to- i have a lifetime of stuff to share with regards to articles and the like. I have a few ideas up my sleeve to try and include one or two people who have inspired my research into Hatshepsut. As much as i love thanking people indirectly and occasionally in private correspondence- i would much prefer some form of "Interview" section, "Meet the Author", "Meet the Egyptologist" or something along those lines. With a number of books and articles in production as we speak - wouldn't it be wonderful to have the author tell use about their work, rather than another faceless Amazon link?

There i go again with the ideas...... honestly i have no way of shutting off. I will do the next best thing an stop typing instead.

Regards,
Stuart
(Stuart Tyler, Styler78, Hatshepstu) - Depending on which platform you see this post.

Egyptological Magazine

The third issue of the free online magazine, Egyptological is out. So far in the three issues, there has already been a number of items of note to this blog:

1. An article on Hatshepsut, by Barbara O'Neill, Hatshepsut, King of Egypt (1479–1458 BC)
2. An Article on the Goddess Pakhet (Speos Artemidos) by Andrea Byrnes,Notes on the Goddess Pakhet
3. Photographs of TT353 by Glyn Morris,Photos of the tomb of Senenmut (TT353) by Glyn Morris

 I have given my word to Andrea (and of course, Kate) that i will draft an article myself in the not too distant future. I will be looking at the new blog, the Hatshepsut Project Museum Database (really just a template currently) and giving an idea of what to expect from it as a resource for studying Hatshepsut.

Please take a look at Egyptological if you haven't already. It covers all of Egypt, then and now.

Regards,
Stuart

Authors note

I am still very much enjoying the fact that loads of information about the Thutmosides is unknown to me. Every now and again i read a snippet of information worth looking into. Its something i enjoy doing and often helps me to increase my own knowledge.

To my knowledge i am the only person who is logging all of Hatshepsut's items as a hobby. That said, i have to be wary of how my own research may be seen by my peers and those who are of a high status in the field who may from time to time check in on the work.

What i have noticed is that a number of people have conducted research into the life of Hatshepsut which (if i can find it) can be of use.

Such people include Luc Gabolde, Flinder's Petrie and Jaeger (full name unknown) who have conducted research into scarab (seals) from the reigns of Thutmose I, II and Hatshepsut. Wiki quotes the following:

"Flinders Petrie's older study of scarab seals noted 86 seals for Thutmose I, 19 seals for Thutmose II and 149 seals for Hatshepsut while more recent studies by Jaeger estimate a total of 241 seals for Thutmose I, 463 seals for Hatshepsut and only 65 seals for Thutmose II.^[12] Hence, unless there was an abnormally low number of scarabs produced under Thutmose II, this would indicate that the king's reign was rather short-lived. On this basis, Gabolde estimated Thutmose I and II's reigns to be approximately 11 and 3 full years, respectively. Consequently, the reign length of Thutmose II has been a much debated subject among Egyptologists with little consensus given the small number of surviving documents for his reign."

From Wikipedia.

Whilst i do not have access to works quoted above- i hope to be able to use the Hatshepsut Museum Database to produce similar comparative work. What i can confirm with some authority is that the Thutmosides certainly left a few scarabs. Different shapes and sizes, colours and themes. In fact it is something which sticks out within the database (by the sheer numbers).

All i have to do now is get on with the new blog so that others can see how things are looking. Realistically, 2012 will be a busy year. It will bring me my first son and will see the growth (publicly) of the database.

Furthermore, discussions within the Hatshepsut Project Group on Facebook have given me a good idea of how we can expand in the future.  An exciting idea being floated is a new project which may or may not be called the "Hatshepsut Project Photographic Database". This (if it goes ahead) would be a wonderful way of documenting Hatshepsut via photographs. Something which is not yet available to us (to my knowledge). Far too early to say any more, but it would be a project which would be run by volunteers, free of charge to view (fingers crossed) and available to all.

Should you wish to know more, i will follow up with a post at a later date. Please feel free to join us on Facebook- you would be most welcome.

Regards,
Stuart

Temple of Wadjmose - West Bank, Luxor

Goodness knows how this managed to escape me, but i got there in the end!

Wadjmose and Amunmose, brothers and their half sister was Hatsheput. Both may have had a ligitimate claim to the throne, but neither survived long enough for that. Wadjmose, Amenmose and Hatshepsut shared a father, Thutmose I.

I have located a number of items/ artifacts relating to Amenmose for the Hatshepsut Museum Database, but Wadjmose is a little harder to locate.

A single monument which is today labelled as the Temple of Wadjmose lies on the Theban (Luxor) West Bank.

I will look into obtaining further details ob this monument. Until then, thanks to Amelia Blandford Edwards for the tip off. What had me confused was Amelia's rendering of the name i know as Wadjmose. It appeared as something like Uatsmes - so i ignored it multiple times, before the penny dropped.

**Amended 27/11/11

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut at Highclere - an update

After spending a good amount of time on the Hatshepsut Museum Database recently - it has become clear to me why i have been unable to locate any item in their collection relating to Hatshepsut.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a number of items purchased from Lady Carnarvon, after the death of Lord Carnarvon. Perhaps to pay for the upkeep of Highclere- i am not sure.

The main thing for me is to know that there were items at Highclere relating to Hatshepsut, but today these items are no longer there.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Museum Database breaks the 1,000 mark

After adding a number of items to the database, i can now confirm there are exactly 1,007 items listed. A further 8 museums have been added to the Database which i have yet to post about. They will follow soon.

It has been a very positive week.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshpsut Project - the year is nearly over

Goodness knows what happened to 2011- it is quickly drawing to a close. As far as the Hatshepsut Project is concerned it has been a year of expansion. Now that we are on Blogger, Twitter and Facebook- the project is exactly where i want it to be.

When starting out- i simply didn't know what i was getting myself into. For any of you who are not bloggers- its a very good way of communicating information and meeting others with a common interest. Facebook has been an eye-opener for me. I do not own a mobile phone and never used Facebook until my wife set up the Hatshepsut Project Group. Since then- i am there more often than i would like to admit. With 205 members on Facebook (to date) - we are fortunate to have a great mix of people who are all helping my research.

From the input on Facebook- i have a good idea of the projects that will follow in the next 6 months or so. I am fully aware that i have a number of projects on the go at once, but different lines of enquiry have started to open up for me - and i will not ignore them.

We are not quite there with the museums. I believe we are up to 35, with approx. 5 more which i haven't yet reported about. I will post these and any others which come to light. The actual data input is really hard work at present. Rather than being a simple "copy and paste" exercise - there has been a great deal of independent research needed which has been both rewarding and exhausting. No more than 1,000 items have been added so far- with a number still waiting to be added.

Recent discussions on Facebook has given me more information on Private Collections of items relating directly or indirectly to Hatshepsut. I will soon start posting the findings. Then, as more collections make themselves known - updates will follow. I am considering how to log these items. The current idea would be to add them to the database under Museum "Private Collections". Due to the fact we are looking at the types of items which are today housed in museums- it would be a great shame if they were left out. They are still, after all, related to Hatshepsut.


Also i am trying to build a photographic archive, which will be made freely available. As with many of my current ideas- i will update once i have more to add.

The Hatshepsut Project will continue to grow. If i start to lose track of things i will be sure to ask for help. So far, having Rita Murray alongside me on Facebook has been a blessing. Rita takes off some of the pressure i was under previously and i am most grateful.

There is a good chance that the Hatshepsut Project may simply get too much for one person. As i try to devise more ways of expanding- i will keep one eye on diversity. I don't want to look at any one area for too long as time is an issue. If there is anyone out there looking for a project either for College/ University and you feel you may be able help out (whilst also aiding your studies)- please let me know. There is much i cannot do and many times i have reached the limits of my own capabilities.

I thank you all for your help over the last 18 months. We currently have around 1,000 visits to the the blog alone each month. You have kept me motivated and very well informed. Every email, comment, link, photo has been most useful to me. I am not sure where i will end up with this research, but i can assure you all we have many years of study to go.

Thank you, I am eternally grateful to you all.

Stuart

Hatshepsut - Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria have a small collection of items that in some way relate to Hatshepsut.

Kindly, they sent me a document, listing these items and giving a good background for each item. I am currently in discussions with them over using their photographs - so i will wait until that is concluded before posting too much.

An item which has been of high value to Egyptologists is described below:

Ostrakon: ostracon with ink inscription
New Kingdom period
Dated 18th Dynasty, a time of Hatshepsut, ca 1502-1482 BC
Location Western Thebes, Deir el-Bahari (probably)
Dimensions H 9.5 cm, W 13.8 cm, D 3.4 cm
Materials / Techniques limestone
classification Ostrakon
 

The hieroglyphic text on this little Ostrakon
contains a draft text of the statue of the Queen's nurse
Hatshepsut re-named Sit- Re (called In(et), which originally
Hathor temple of Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahri
was set up, and today, this statue is located in the Cairo Museum
(Cairo JE 56 264).The draft text of the statue consists of five vertical
Columns inscribed with the offering formula. In this.

 This draught of the text on the statue of Sit- Re (Hatshepsut's Wet- Nurse) was used to complete the text on the statue itself, which was in very many pieces and incomplete. 


For further reading on Sit- Re, this Ostracon and a picture of the statue of Sit- Re (Cairo Museum), please visit Maatkara Hatschepsut (Persons, Sit-Ra).


My thanks to Dr. Regina Hölzl for your assistance.


Regards,
Stuart

Neferure - Christies Auction House

Here is a limestone Stela which i have never seen before. This is a PAST auction and the costs and details involved in the sale are of little value to me. What is of value is the existence of a stela featuring Neferure, complete with a depiction of her as well as her cartouche.

Neferure, Christies

This may be a well known item, but my own limited research has drawn blanks in every direction available to me. I would therefore like to ask a few questions:

1. Who is the goddess to the left. she is a personification of fields, etc but the description does not name her. Perhaps this may give us the information which will allow us to see where this stela would have been erected (?)
2. Neferure is depicted as "the divine wife [of the god Amun]". Would this suggest a date during the sole reign of Hatshepsut? - where it seems (Deir el Bahri) Neferure's status was elevated from Kings Daughter to Gods Wife of Amun (please correct me if i am wrong here).
3. Provenance:
   

   Provenance

   Otto Wegener Collection, Munich, collected in the 1950s
   Edgar Wegener, Hamburg, 1983
   Thomas Wegener, 1995 

No mention here of an excavation. Collected in the 1950's means very little if we wish to bring the stela to life. No excavation reports, no photographs of this item in-situ. I'm also not sure how i include such items in the database.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - Netery Menu photo update

Hatshepsut's latest monument being re-erected in the Open air Museum, Karnak (following the wonderful work done by CFEETK on the Red Chapel). Dr Leser has forwarded these photos of the latest in the developments. I am really pleased to see the progress of this monument.

 I extend my sincerest thanks to Dr. Karl Leser for these wonderful photos. Your continued support is a major asset to my research.

The first photo shows the front view of the Netery Menu, which is really taking shape.

The second photo is a side view, giving an idea of the extent of the monument once it's finished. Working from fragments, CFEETK have progressed well in the last year or so.

Situated in the entrance of Karnak's Open air Museum - a seperate ticket will need to be obtained in order to view this munument. The cost compared to British tourist sites of much lesser quality is very reasonable.

Once completed i will expect CFEETK to give a full report on the work undertaken. I will contact them at some stage in the future to check this. Any information will be passed on.

These photographs are copyright Dr. Karl Leser.

If anyone out there is not aware of Dr. Lesers work on Hatshepsut - please visit his website (German and English language). See below:


MaatKaRa Hatschepsut

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - The National Archaeological Museum, Florence

The National Archaeological Museum, Florence, Italy has a small collection of Hatshepsut items within their collection in their Egyptian Museum. The following items have been added to the database:

• 3 Calcite/ Alabaster Vases with Lids, Foundation Deposits from Deir el Bahri
•  Limestone Votive Stela (From an official of the court of Hatshepsut)

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Thanks to Phil Stewart (Hatshepsut Project Group member) for sending me a link to items i was previously unaware of at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK. Not many photos are included, but the information supplied is very useful.

The database will be updated shortly:

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Regards,
Stuart

Senenmut's Tomb TT71- Photos by Heidi Kontkanen

stela No.7 tomb TT71
Originally uploaded by konde
A big thank you to Heidi Kontkanen for this fantastic set of photos taken at TT71.

Regards,
Stuart

Neferura, Heir Apparent - Marianne Luban

This is a very interesting post by Marianne Luban, "Neferure, Heir Apparent".

Marianne picks up where we left off back in August and September.

The life of Neferure is not well known. She may have died young, or she may have married Thutmose III. We certainly await archaeological evidence for the latter - but the point is Neferure's life is very much a mystery.

Marianne has some interesting points to make. Marianne is looking at an area which to my own knowledge is very much up for discussion.

I would like to hear from anyone who wishes to add to what Marianne has posted.

Regards,
Stuart

British Museum tour reaches Dorchester Museum

British Museum Tour:

"PHARAOH: KING OF EGYPT"

This tour features some items which will be of use to the Hatshepsut Project, so i will add further details. This tour will be in my home town of Bristol in 2013. I will be there (if all goes well). I will photograph what i can and will report on the visit. 

If any of you get to see the tour before then, please let us know what your thoughts are on the exhibition.

Regards,

Stuart

Hatshepsut, by Amelia B. Edwards

Amelia Edwards- co- founder of the Egypt Exploration Fund (now Society), female Egyptologist. The list could go on. Her grave is only a few miles from where i am right now. Deserved of a post all to herself (one for later)- it is the following link to some of her work i wish to share. This small piece of history is incredible. Made available online and is packed with a large number of talking points.

It is important to note that Amelia Edwards was writing before many of the discoveries which give us the information we have today- so there are many opportunities to compare her thoughts with the information have available today.

"Chapter 8: Queen Hatasu, and Her Expedition to the Land of Punt." by Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (1831-1892)
Publication: Pharaohs Fellahs and Explorers. by Amelia Edwards. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1891. (First edition.) pp. 261-300."

As i stated above there are many talking points. I will higlight some of these in future posts. This document is a real gem which i am excited to have. It is made available to us by Pennsylvania University Libraries.


Regards,
Stuart

Authors Note

Just a quick post to try to work out where we are right now and where i hope us to be for the rest of 2011.

Thanks for all of those who have been following the blog and the very useful comments which you have left to date.

I am still adding detail to the Hatshepsut Museum database although i have been deliberately quiet recently with updates. One example of the type of work i am doing on the database is "gap filling". We have around 1,000 items which have been captured so far (give or take) and i found out very early on that i need to have multiple sources of information for each item to get the most complete information. That's what I'm working on. Acquisition dates and Provenance are the hardest areas to fill, but in time i hope we will have enough information to "go live".

Our group on Facebook has been a great help. After a year of research- i felt i needed to be around others who share the same interests- in order to ensure my own "knowledge" was correct and to gain confidence in discussing Hatshepsut in an open environment. The feedback so far is promising. I have a number of people who have kindly steered me in the right direction on a few topics and i realise how much I've learned and how little I've learned all at the same time (depending on who the discussion is with). I will add that the Egyptian Dream discussion forum has been a great place for me to discuss Hatshepsut also. It has given me the confidence to open up this blog and to post with a degree of freedom in the way i write (learned by opening up discussions and backing up evidence when asked to, etc). 

When discussions within the Hatshepsut Project Group provide more information- i will share this on all the platforms available to me- Blogger, Facebook and Twitter.

All mini- projects are running in the background. None have projected end- dates as i am far too busy. My wife and I are going to have a son in 2012, so posts around then will be as and when i get time. Saying that- Hatshepsut is never too far away. She will have to take a back seat for a period of time.

Hatshepsut owes me that.... :)

Regards,
Stuart

Divine Birth and Coronation Inscriptions of Hatshepsut

Article from milestonedocuments.com:


"Divine Birth and Coronation Inscriptions of Hatshepsut"

Commentary by T. Musacchio, John Jay College, CUNY

Regards,

Stuart

 

Maatkara Shabti, but not Maatkara Hatshepsut

Some time ago i posted about a visit to my local museum, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. The purpose of the visit was to see a blue glazed shabti "with the Prenomen of Hatshepsut".

Here is what i saw:

Indeed, Maatkara can be seen on the shabti. The shabti belongs to the 21st Dynasty though.

I forgot i had this photo. It wasn't a wasted visit either. As much as it would have been great to see Hatshepsut in Bristol. It was good to rule this shabti out- so that i could concentrate on the artifacts of Maatkara Hatshepsut which we know are hers.

A number of Hatshepsut related (British Museum) artefact's will be touring the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery soon. I will post further details closer to the time.

Regards,
Stuart

Interesting Hatshepsut article by Marianne Luban

Marianne Luban has written an interesting article, which is well worth sharing, entitled "Hatshepsut's Obelisk Again".

Author of a number of books, including the Pharaoh's Barber (See picture below), Marianne runs the "The Time Traveler Rest Stop" blog and has been  a great help to me in the past.


For further information on Marianne and her work, please visit The Time Traveler Rest Stop.


Thank you, Marianne.

Regards,
Stuart

Wadi Gawasis

Many people are not aware of the site of Wadi Gawasis, so i will provide a few interesting links as a starter point. Could this provide a much sought after link to Punt?

What is most important about the Wadi Gerwasis is the current excavations being carried out which have proven to be incredibly fruitful. Firstly, I will ask you to have a look at the links provided in my last post entitled "Punt: Digging Away at a Mystery"


Now note that the archaeological findings are all pointing in the direction of the possibility that Wadi Gerwasis may have been the starting point the Ancient Egyptians used when setting off for the land of Punt.

Specific to Hatshepsut- i believe that no items have been found yet which point to her own expedition(s) to Punt, but further reading into the many reports show that the findings are exciting to say the least. At this stage i introduce the work of Kathryn Bard (Boston University) and Rodolfo Fattovich (Naples University):

Mersa/Wadi Gawasis  An Egyptian Harbour n the Red Sea 

The findings have been incredible. The University of Naples has a great way of breaking down the work carried out and listing the individual findings. I personally found their Egittologia article great for looking these findings up.

If you don't want to stop there- there's plenty of information online. I would advise to sticking to the work of the excavators and their Universities- to ensure completeness of information.

Regards,
Stuart

Punt: Digging Away at a Mystery

Thanks to Paul Boughton for bringing the following article to my attention:

Punt: Digging Away at a Mystery

"Tonight (Kathryn) Bard will describe what has been found at the site and what these artifacts tell us about the ancient Egyptians when she delivers this year’s University Lecture, titled The Wonderful Things of Punt: Excavations at a Pharaonic Harbor on the Red Sea, at the Tsai Performance Center at 7 p.m."

 I am sure the above event will be worth attending. The subject matter is of high importance to Ancient Egypt and the most recent discoveries have helped to keep the name of Punt on the lips of many of us.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - Provenance

In reference to the Hatshepsut Project artifacts come in various shapes and sizes. Maybe as small as an inscribed bead to the much larger statues. Each and every artifact discovered in Egypt has a story, whether inscribed/ painted or not. The value of each and every item increases depending on the completeness of information we have regarding its provenance.

The very many fragments of statues discovered by Herbert Winlock (on behalf of the Metropolitan Museum of Art) at Deir el Bahri have a clear provenance.  Each and every one of those statues came from Deir el Bahri. Each one was treated to various levels of destruction before being dumped in pits which were uncovered in the 20^th century. 

The British Museum (Hatshepsut) obelisk, found at Qasr Ibrim has some history. It was treated to the same defacement as many of Hatshepsut’s monuments, a point not unexpected. It was re-used within a later monument which saved in from the ravages of time. What would be good for this obelisk is to know where Hatshepsut erected it originally. It seems to have lasted into the time of the sole reign of Thutmose III (perhaps Amenhotep II), where either standing or not was defaced. We cannot blame anyone for the lack of provenance. It was re-used/ recycled after Hatshepsut’s death.  We may never know the original location of this object. We are fortunate to have this little obelisk at all, after 3500 yrs or so.

The amount of information that can be gained from a single object, which may not be particularly eye catching in a museum is incredible. A small scarab beetle, which lies surrounded by many others perhaps in better shape, cannot be ignored. Often we can gain information such as which god the item is dedicated to, who dedicated it, which temple and more.  Whereas it’s nice to see a Scarab Beetle of Hatshepsut, its better to have the most complete information- leaving less room for guesswork.

It’s not just the inscriptions, but say a Scarab Beetle dedicated to Amun was found within the temple of Karnak, with the name of Hatshepsut. We can say that it was dedicated BY Hatshepsut TO Amun at Karnak. This is preferable to “Hatshepsut scarab with name of Amun inscribed” which we would get without the information of its discovery location. If a canopic jar with the name of Hatshepsut is ever found, great. However, as this item was NOT found by anyone who recorded it in the records we read today, there is a chance that it was stolen. If stolen, where from? where’s it been?  was it found in KV20? Or do we draw a blank?  Then, what happens is there are human remains in the above canopic jar? The only acceptable provenance (excavation) has been ruled out, so how can we link the remains with Hatshepsut, with great certainty?

Artifacts have a number of ways of ending up in our museums collections. Many are acquired through excavations. Some have been purchased on the antique markets, some are gifts and others are bequeathed by the “owners” of these items in their Last Will and Testimony.  Then there’s the black market. Today’s stance on the purchase of items which come from the black market is clear. It is illegal and unacceptable. If the true number of Egyptian artifacts scattered across the globe which were bought on the black market was known, it would make for shocking reading. Again we should be lucky to have these items today. Its only when an items provenance is put into question do we realise what we are missing. We cannot do a thing about it. 

These are but brief comments. The more museums I visit in person or virtually- the more I see the importance or provenance. More often than not it is the lack of provenance which sticks in the mind.

One item of note in recent press is the Hatshepsut vessel containing the carcinogenic substance.  Who originally found this object? EXACTLY where and when? What happened since then? The Hatshepsut Database I am creating has a number of blank entries- and will remain so until this information is volunteered to us. 

Regards,

Stuart

Message to Dylan Bickerstaffe re: British Museum Obelisk

I completely ignored the placard which accompanies the British Museum Obelisk. You question made me go back and i realised i had the following on Flickr:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/styler78/5540755753/in/photostream

The inscription reads "Beloved of Horus, Lord of Mian (modern day Aniba) Living like Re forever"

I am out of my depth but this inscription sounds like it may offer a clue to the answer to your question. What do you make of this inscription? Would a God's Wife of Amun "fit" within such an inscription?

Regards,
Stuart

More on the British Museum Obelisk from Qasr Ibrim

Owing the the amount of "new" material available to me, i have been able to revisit a number of artifacts recently to add further details than previously posted. The next item is the small Obelisk at the British Museum, EA 1834.

The following document gives some interesting, further information on the discovery of the obelisk (in 3 separate pieces):

Qaṣr Ibrim̂ 1963-1964Author(s): J. Martin PlumleySource: The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 50 (Dec., 1964), pp. 3-5 Published by: Egypt Exploration Society.

"...Two areas for excavation were selected [within the Qasr Ibrim Fortress]: the Church, and the so-called Podium in the south wall of the Fortress.......
......Further excavation northwards from the Podium area may reveal the foundations of an earlier building, in all probability a temple, and possibly the building from which came much of the material for the construction of the Church. It is not without signi- ficance that amongst the debris moved from this area came a number of blocks bearing parts of hieroglyphic inscriptions. The greater part of these can be dated to the reign of Taharqa, though there are pieces from the Ramesside period. A surprising find was a small granite obelisk, which had been used to form a step in a stairway to the east of the Podium. Though the cartouches on this monument had been hammered out in antiquity, it is still possible to make out the prenomen of Hatshepsut."

Somehow, the findspot "Qasr Ibrim" never seemed sufficient enough an explanation. We now have an idea of the usage of the obelisk, as found during the excavations.

Regards,
Stuart

More on the Neferure fragment in Dundee

Before continuing, it is important that i thank two people for the following information. Rita Murray and Marianne Luban. Rita for your generous help in allowing me to obtain documentation from JSTOR and Marianne for asking questions on the original post, which can be seen here which made me look for a way of securing the location of the fragment within Deir el Bahri (or more correctly, Djeser Djeseru).

With Rita's help, i have been able to locate the following:


A LONG-LOST PORTRAIT OF PRINCESS NEFERURE' FROM DEIR EL-BAHRI By K. A. KITCHEN, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 49 (Dec., 1963), pp. 38-40

I quote:

"I have visited Deir el-Bahri and was able to place the pencil- rubbing of the Dundee head in the gap in the south wall of the Sanctuary. It fitted exactly. The provenance of this relief is thus placed beyond all doubt. My thanks are due to Dr. L. Dabrowski and Eng. W. Kolataj of the Polish expedition working at Deir el-Bahri for their practical help on the spot".

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Database - Thoughts for the long term

I have yo-yo'd from thought to thought on the eventual future of the database. This is something i wrestle with on a daily basis and have done since setting up the Hatshepsut Museum Database Project.

As you may or may not now, a Wikiversity Page has was set up by Anneke Bart in response to my pleas for help. Even without any further amendments, its a great page. I have to decide whether to make use of this page or go in another direction. I currently have a single excel spreadsheet housing (eventually) all the information gathered, so that ALL of Hatshepsuts artifacts can be displayed on one page to allow for future study of these items.

The "grandest" idea to date is perhaps the least likely, certainly the most expensive and full of potential hazards.-The idea would be to have a CD with the database added, with the ability to have many filters, colour codes, photos, possibly even audio. I love what Bob Briar did with his "History of Egypt" audio tapes/ cd/ dvd.  The idea would be to include the database and have the option to hear about the history of the discoveries, how items ended up in their current homes and the ancient history such as why certain items were made and how they relate to Hatshepsut.

The biggest issue here is cost. I wish to be able to share the information free of charge and available to all. Another thing is that the database will be compiled using items located by me (and those brought to my attention by others). As such, i will inevitably leave out items, locate new museums, have to input any "new" discoveries, correct errors, etc. For this i would have to bring out Version 1,2,3 etc. This increases cost.

Whilst i am a very long way from finishing the database - i am looking at the very best way of displaying it. I had thought of creating a website. That may happen still, but i am no closer to making the final decision.

Regards,
Stuart

Book Recommendation: "The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari"

One of my most recent purchases has turned out to be a little gem:
  
"The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari" by The Ministry of Culture, Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Polish Centre of Archaeology, CAIRO 2000.

Whilst only 47 pages long the information, line drawings and pictures make this a great read. This will act as an introduction to the Temple of Hatshepsut to those new to the temple and further information to those who wish to have a better understanding of the temple and its history.

This is an example on Amazon

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Sphinx at Memphis? The Ostracon, Summer 2004

I recently found an article which brought up a interesting subject which i had not seen before. I posted it on Facebook due to the high level of Thutmose III information, including a great article from Aidan Dodson.

The whole document is extremely interesting, but the possibility of a Hatshepsut Sphinx in Memphis (the Administration capital of Ancient Egypt during Hatshepsuts lifetime) was the attention grabber for me.

Far from being a done deal, the sphinx may still represent Thutmose III, but stylistically, it could be either him or Hatshepsut. The article is well worth a read:

The Ostracon (Journal of the Egyptian Study Society), VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2; SUMMER-2004

Regards,
Stuart

More on Hatsheput Foundation Deposits from Catherine Roehrig

A recent free lecture was held regarding the Hatshepsut Foundation Deposits, by Catherine Roehrig- Curator of the Mertopolitan Museum of Art. Here's a description:

"Of the eleven excavated foundation deposits that are connected with the Eighteenth Dynasty temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, one was discovered by Naville in 1894-95, two were discovered by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in 1910 and 1911, and nine were discovered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art between 1922 and 1927. Largely based on the positions of these foundation deposits, Herbert Winlock postulated an original, unrealized plan for the temple that was very similar to the neighboring Eleventh Dynasty temple of Nebhepetr. A careful examination of the notes and photographs taken by the Metropolitan Museum excavation team does indicate that there are two sets of foundation deposits laying out an earlier and a later building phase. However, the first layout appears to be influenced by the existence of an early Eighteenth Dynasty structure, not by the plan of Mentuhotep’s temple"

From ARCE (American Rsearch Centre in Egypt).

It seems that a publication may be forthcoming. This will prove to be an interesting read. Please inform me if anyone out there hears any confirmation of this possible publcation.

Regards,
Stuart

More on the Liverpool Museum Pebble

Further to my recent post on the Hatshepsut "pebble" in the Liverpool Museum, i would like to add the following:

One of the Hatshepsut Project Group(Facebook) followers, Rita Murray has been kind enough to contact her local museum, which happens to be the Liverpool Museum. They confirm the item is on display, in the World Museum collection.

On the Liverpool Museums Facebook page, the item is displayed. They call it a "model shell type foundation deposit" and it can be seen here:


Liverpool Museum Facebook Page

Thank you to Rita for enquiring on my behalf. I appreciate your help.

If anyone wants to join us on Facebook, the Hatshepsut Project Group is happy to welcome you. Information within the Group is faster paced than this blog as its quicker to post. It is not a duplicate of this blog and there are some excellent photos and articles which may interest you

Please feel free to join us.

Regards,
Stuart

Munich Hatshepsut Head *CORRECTION*

Thanks to Dr. Karl Leser and Hans Ollermann for pointing out that the Munich Hatshepsut Head was on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Munich Museum at the time the photo was taken, which i used on this post. 

The item duplication has been corrected on the database itself.

Thank you to both for pointing this out to me.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Statue Head - Egyptian Museum Munich

2007_0826_104348AA
Originally uploaded by Hans Ollermann
The Egyptian Museum, Munich

Another museum where i only have one entry. I do not have the museum inventory number for this item as of yet. The same goes for other information i will need for the database. If you can help, please contact me.

Regards,
Stuart

Deir el Bahri Relief Fragment in Brussels

An addition to the Hatshepsut Museum Database is the Royal Museum of Art and History, Brussels. I only have details of one item so far - a depiction of Thutmose II (formerly Hatshepsut) on a relief fragment from Hatshepsut's Mortuary Temple.

Museum Number: E 3044
Object: Temple Relief
Type: Fragment
Material: Limestone
Link to Hatshepsut: Deir el Bahri
Origination: Deir el Bahri
Findspot:
Discovery Details:
Acquisition Details:  Purchased in Egypt by Jean Capart
Acquisition Date: 1907
Photograph: Hatshepsut From Queen to Pharaoh, Page 155, figure 84.

Regards,
Stuart

2005 Discovery found under Hatshepsuts Obelisk

Neferhotep - Karnak
Originally uploaded by styler78

This Press Release provides details of the discovery.

"The first leg of the Franco-Egyptian delegation will be to the northern side of the fifth pylon, the area between the eighth and ninth pylons, and the Wadjyt Hall. This last area is the site of the most important recent discovery at Karnak, a double limestone statue of 13th dynasty king Neferhotep. This was unearthed in a niche 1.5m below the foundation pit of an obelisk"

From: The Plateau (May 2005)

As a side note, the team uncovered a small cartouche- shaped plaque with the Prenomen of Hatshepsut, Maatkare during the same work around the double statue of Neferhotep). I would assume that it would have either gone into storage at Karnak or to the Cairo Museum but would like to know for the Hatshepsut database. If you are able to help regarding this item, i would be greteful to hear from you.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Museums

I will be concentrating my efforts on releasing details of the final museums which i have located, but not yet added to the Hatshepsut Project within the coming weeks. That way i can consider other projects i have been storing up.

I've located around 38 museums in total with the information available to me. I am sure there are others i have no knowledge of. As soon as new information becomes available, new posts will be added.

Regards,
Stuart

Kestner Museum, Hannover

Kestner Museum, Hannover, Germany has at least one offering for the Hatshepsut Database.

Museum Number: 1935.200.200
Object: Temple Relief
Type: Fragment
Material: Limestone
Link to Hatshepsut: Deir el Bahri, Thutmose III
Origination: Deir el Bahri, Upper Terrace
Findspot:
Discovery Details:
Acquisition Details: Formerley Baron von Bissing Collection
Acquisition Date: 1935
Photograph: Hatshepsut From Queen to Pharaoh, Page 156, figure 85.

The relief fragment in question depicts a statue of Thutmose III in a procession, during the Opet Festival. If anyone out there knows of any other Hatshepsut related items from the Kestner Museum please let me know as this is currently the only entry on the database for this museum.

Regards,
Stuart

Hildesheim Pelizaeus Museum, Germany

The Global Egyptian Museum brings us a fragment (Museum Number 4538) from the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri.

Depicting Thutmose, I assume this fragment must come from the Upper Tier of Djeser Djeseru. Limited information is made available, but a very good looking bibliography has been provided. Please click the link  above for further information.


One other item from the Hildesheim Pelizaeus Museum, Germany added to the Hatshepsut Database is Museum Number 5961. This is an item of unknown origin, made of bronze (with Hatshepsut's Prenomen) and said to be from a foundation deposit.

Regards,
Stuart

Statue of Senenmut and Neferure - Field Museum, Chicago Photos

Most of us are familiar with the block and seated (tutor) statues of Senenmut and Neferure. This standing statue of Senenmut holding Neferure (Museum Number 173800) seems to be unique.
 
Made of Diorite, it was gifted to the Field Museum by Stanley Field and Ernest R. Graham in 1925.

The following photographs were kindly provided by Bob Manske and Kmt-Sesh and used with permission.

The different views of the statue allow us to see this statue from more than the usual frontal views we are all used to seeing::

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Bob Manske

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Senenmut with Princess Neferure. Diorite. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 173800

by Kmt-Sesh

Regards,
Stuart