Hatshepsut Project - Time to learn about the artifacts

Although i am on a break from regular posting (back very soon), i have been looking at a few things which may help me interpret the findings of the Hatshepsut Database.

A book on Scarab Beetles, one on Statues and general articles about seals, cylinder seals, amulets and menats have been providing me with some information on the items listed so far, to give me a "crash course".
As i am learning myself, i thought it prudent to have at least one eye on the Hatshepsut Project. The other one is being rested. 

Whilst i will not update this form of work, i want you to know that i am still working hard- even without my laptop.

The above literature will give me a "beginners" guide on why we have these artifacts. Senenmut is a name never too far from my thoughts, too. Bizarrely, i couldn't sleep last night until i had looked up the "Year 11 stela" which features Senenmut, Neferure and Hathor. Why this was on my mind is anyone's guess. I will include the stela in a post soon, as its a lovely piece of history, out in the Sinai Desert.

Life, Prosperity and Health to you all,

Stuart

Hatshepsut Museum Database - MMA to be added

This weekend i will start adding the Metropolitan Museum of Arts collection of Hatshepsut artifacts. Fortunately there are many items within the collection, so the database will be hugely complemented by the data.

As i visit their collections quite often online, i am very familiar with a number of the statues and especially their Osiride head collection, so this will give me the opportunity to familiarise myself with the smaller artifacts within their collection.

Not only Hatshepsut, but Hatnofer and Ramose (Senenmut's parents), Neferure and Senenmut himself. Looking at the time it took to record the Petrie Museum and British Museum, i will have my work cut out, so it may even take longer than the time i have allocated. Nevertheless, it will be the last of the very large museum collections to be included in the database - depending on the size of the Berlin Egyptian Museum's collection.

Should any important news or discoveries come to light over the weekend (as they did a week ago today), i will look into these first. I haven't had a response from the Bonn University Egyptian Museum, but i have not forgotten about the importance of obtaining the requested information on the Hatshepsut Lotion.

Rehards,
Stuart

Statues of Senenut by Dr. Karl Leser

I recently posted about a Senenmut Statue which is located in a Luxor Storage Magazine. Unable to provide a photo at the time, it has been brought to my attention by Dr. Karl Leser that this item, plus others which i have yet to identify have been listed on one page on his website.

Whilst i will report on the individual locations separately, it is great to have the statuary of Senenmut all in one place and makes further research that much easier.

Please visit Maat-Ka-Ra Hatschepsut, go to Site Map and then Statues of Senenmut. Even the more fragmented statues have been included by Dr. Leser.

With thanks to Dr Leser for pointing this page out to me. This will prove to be a valuable resource to all of us interested in Senenmut's statuary.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Museum Database - Early Stats.

To date there are 441 separate entries on the database. Some single entries are describing multiple items (such as foundation deposits).

So far, as a sample of entries, we have:

• 95 Scarabs
• 75 entries labelled "Foundation Deposits"
• 29 Vases
• 8 Kneeling Statues
• 6 Finger rings, and
• 1 Obelisk

With the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Berlin Egyptian Museum and a number of blank pages to go, the number should rise significantly over the following months.

Regards,
Stuart

Senenmut - Egyptian Department of Antiquities Magazine, Luxor

(This item is not exhibitied publicly).

No links and no pictures available for this statue, but i will describe it with the information i have to hand. Before doing so, the quick point that there are many storage facilities throughout Egypt. How to find out about them is a mystery to me, but i am sure information is available. 

Object: Statue
Type: Kneeling with Hathor Emblem
Material: Grey Granite or Grandiorite
Discovery: 1963, Thutmose III Mortuary Temple ("Djeser Akhet")
Period: Joint Reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III

This item will not be added to the Hatshepsut Database, at least not for now. All entries are strictly related to museums for now.

For further details and the reason i am aware of this site, read:

"Hatshepsut, From Queen to Pharaoh", The Statuary of Senenmut by Cathleen A.Keller pgs 126-128.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshspsut Lotion...Update

Whereas i assumed yesterday i might have a reason to conclude the hunt for the required details on the Hatshepsut lotion (or correctly- the vessel that contains the lotion), that will not be the case.

When conducting experiments on the contents of the vessel, Dr Wiedenfeld was not provided with all the information i have requested. Enquiries are now being made with the Bonn University Egyptian Museum directly.

Thank you to Dr. Helmut Wiedenfeld for your recent correspondence.You pointed out something that many of us noticed- there are many questions about this story. None of them are due to doubts about the story which was reported last week, all of them to provide further information which will allow a more complete picture of the significance of the findings.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Lotion, Part 2 (of 3)

I hope to conclude the research into the Hatshepsut lotion within the next 48hrs. I am in contact with Dr. Helmut Wiedenfeld who we know from the various articles on the subject. He has offered information which may end any further queries into the discovery location and subsequent history. I have asked for clarification on a number of points, which i feel necessary before posting the conclusion. If the response comes sooner, then i will share the information immediately.

To clarify one point- i do not doubt the findings, I welcome them. My only fear was that some of the pieces of the jigsaw were not included in the subsequent articles. A point i wished to address immediately. Also a point which will lend a lot more clarity for those of us who feel it necessary. Please feel free to add any points you feel have been missed? Perhaps you may feel that i am "flogging a dead horse". Either way, your opinions are welcomed.

Thank you for following,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - Osiride Heads at the MMA

Metropolitan Museum  of Art, New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has the largest collection of Hatshepsut Osiride Heads found so far. Click the above link to see their collections more complete Heads. Further fragments are not included here, but will be included in the conclusion of the Osiride Head Project. Click on each one to view their details. I will use this information to see how many can be placed (virtually) back in their original locations at Deir el Bahri.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut Lotion

Emails have been popping up like crazy regarding this article.

Whilst its late here in he UK, I appreciate those of you who will be waking up to this article, so rather than go to sleep on this I want to share a few things

To sum it up for those new to the article, The University of Bonn have spent two years studying the contents of a metal container, which is inscribed with the throne name of Hatshepsut. The results are in the article. It may have led to the poisoning of at least one person, perhaps more.

Whilst the findings make fantastic news the attachment to Hatshepsut is down to the inscriptions on the container only. I have yet to find details from Bonn University regarding the discovery of the container. Before jumping to conclusions it would wise to see what is known of its discovery and subsequent history. If you can help, please contact me.

We may be looking at a vessel which originally belonged to Hatshepsut but was used by someone after Hatshepsut's death. In this case, Hatshepsut may indeed have used the vessel, but not with the contents which the article discusses. This way the contents had no ill effect on Hatshepsut. She may have never seen this vessel in her lifetime,who knows for sure?

I emailed the University and await their response. Any further information will be good to hear.

Regards,
Stuart

Hatshepsut - Interesting new article

Hatshepsut Poisened?

I will say more when i have time, but for now its a discussion point worth looking into (pinch of salt????)

Regards,
Stuart