Feature Object: 'Ancestor Bust', New Kingdom.
Many so called 'Ancestor Busts' have been found in the New Kingdom town site of Deir el-Medina which housed the tomb builders who worked in the nearby Valley of the Kings (and Queens). Ancestor busts mainly date from this period, when there were many changes in the practices and displays of personal piety.
The busts rarely have inscriptions, and this is important because the ancient Egyptians believed strongly in the power of writing and in particular, names, which were essential for the survival of the deceased in the next life. The faces and headdresses of the busts are of a generic style, and seem to represent no one in particular. These stylistic features suggest that the busts might represent the collective ancestors of their owners rather than a specific person.
Most people have a familiarity with the trappings of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the Afterlife, but mummies and tombs were not passive objects that were made and then forgotten.
The ancient Egyptians had an active ongoing relationship between the living and the dead. The living left sustenance for the deceased, held rituals and even wrote letters to them proclaiming their ongoing love and asking for assistance in worldly matters in which the deceased were thought to have the power to intervene.
These busts may have resided in house niches (although they have been found in non-domestic contexts) and served as a focus for offerings, rituals and requests for assistance.
Further reading:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/religion/ancestor.html
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/painted-limestone-ancestor-bust/2wGvEvo3MEP1zw
Many so called 'Ancestor Busts' have been found in the New Kingdom town site of Deir el-Medina which housed the tomb builders who worked in the nearby Valley of the Kings (and Queens). Ancestor busts mainly date from this period, when there were many changes in the practices and displays of personal piety.
The busts rarely have inscriptions, and this is important because the ancient Egyptians believed strongly in the power of writing and in particular, names, which were essential for the survival of the deceased in the next life. The faces and headdresses of the busts are of a generic style, and seem to represent no one in particular. These stylistic features suggest that the busts might represent the collective ancestors of their owners rather than a specific person.
Most people have a familiarity with the trappings of ancient Egyptian beliefs about the Afterlife, but mummies and tombs were not passive objects that were made and then forgotten.
The ancient Egyptians had an active ongoing relationship between the living and the dead. The living left sustenance for the deceased, held rituals and even wrote letters to them proclaiming their ongoing love and asking for assistance in worldly matters in which the deceased were thought to have the power to intervene.
These busts may have resided in house niches (although they have been found in non-domestic contexts) and served as a focus for offerings, rituals and requests for assistance.
Further reading:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/religion/ancestor.html
https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/painted-limestone-ancestor-bust/2wGvEvo3MEP1zw
that i s just awesome pure awesomeness
ReplyDeleteJulie-Caroline Blanchet you are wonderful too by shear the Art work.. i wish i can have one.. lolz
ReplyDelete