<em>Akhenaten and His Daughter Offering to the Aten</em>, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 15/16 × 20 5/16 × 1 1/4 in., 14.5 lb. (22.7 × 51.6 × 3.2 cm, 6.58kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
, 60.197.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 60.197.6_PS9.jpg)

Akhenaten and His Daughter Offering to the Aten, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 15/16 × 20 5/16 × 1 1/4 in., 14.5 lb. (22.7 × 51.6 × 3.2 cm, 6.58kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund , 60.197.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 60.197.6_PS9.jpg)

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What was he holding?

Akhenaten holds up a bouquet and presents it to the Aten. The arms that you see to the left are actually hands of the end of rays emanating from a sundisk representing the Aten.

What is the function of this piece?

This relief shows the pharaoh, Akhenaten, presenting an offering to the god Aten. The hands that come down are the rays of Aten, who was associated with the sun. So it is very much part of a religious relief.

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Can you tell me about the style of Egyptian art?

The style used in Egyptian art changed over time. At all times, the style was heavily influenced by its communicative function. Around the time this relief was made, the visual style of depicting human bodies changed a great deal, this change was directly related to a major change in the religion.

Egyptian art always conveyed specific ideas based on visual conventions. The way a body was shown could have great meaning, as the posture and appearance of the figure could convey different things.

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In the relief of "Akhenaten and his Daughter Offering to Aten," what is the king doing？Why can we only see the nude body, and no face?

As the title suggests, he is making an offering to the god Aten, the all-encompassing sun god that he elevated to the role of chief deity during her reign. Akhenaten drastically changed the religion during his reign and there was a strong reaction against him after he died. The religion was changed back and images of him were often destroyed, like this one. This is also just one block that would have been part of a larger decorated wall, the top of his head and his legs would have been on separate blocks.

Akhenaten and His Daughter Offering to the Aten

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Akhenaten presents a formal bouquet to the Aten, whose rays, ending in tiny hands, stream down before the king. Only the king's arms, torso, and lower face are preserved. His daughter holds a rattle called a sistrum and wears her hair in an elaborate plaited sidelock, symbolizing youth.

MEDIUM Limestone, pigment

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Place found: Hermopolis Magna, Egypt
Reportedly from: Tell el-Amarna, Egypt

DATES ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom, Amarna Period

DIMENSIONS 8 15/16 × 20 5/16 × 1 1/4 in., 14.5 lb. (22.7 × 51.6 × 3.2 cm, 6.58kg) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 60.197.6

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone relief. At left, Akhenaten, arms upraised making an offering to the Aten whose rays, terminating in hands, fill area in front of king. Behind king, a princess holding sistrum. Three (?) columns off effaced text at upper right. Six blank cartouches on king’s torso. Condition: Poor. Face of king obliterated. His arms and body chipped. Neck of princess lost. Edges badly chipped.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Akhenaten and His Daughter Offering to the Aten, ca. 1352–1336 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 15/16 × 20 5/16 × 1 1/4 in., 14.5 lb. (22.7 × 51.6 × 3.2 cm, 6.58kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund , 60.197.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 60.197.6_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 60.197.6_PS9.jpg., 2018

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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