Head of a Queen
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Ptolemaic queens participated in many Egyptian religious rites, playing the standard role of Egyptian queens. Though they were ethnic Greeks, these queens took their duties within Egyptian religion seriously. In images they serve as musicians before the gods, just as queens had in Egypt for thousands of years.
MEDIUM
Marble
Possible Place Made: Egypt
DATES
305–30 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Ptolemaic Period
DIMENSIONS
5 5/16 x 4 5/16 x 4 3/4 in. (13.5 x 11 x 12 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
71.12
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Marble head of a queen wearing a heavy wig encircled by a fillet from which spring three uraei. The eyes were once inlaid. A back pillar extends up above the top of the head and partially covers the rear top portion of the head. The head is broken off diagonally at the neck.
A few scholars have theorized that the triple uraeus identifies her a Cleopatra.
Condition: Large chips in top of head and in left rear portion of wig. Smaller chips elsewhere in wig; edges of back pillar chipped; lower left eye-lid chipped; chips in face; two uraei chipped; inlays for eyes now missing.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Head of a Queen, 305–30 B.C.E. Marble, 5 5/16 x 4 5/16 x 4 3/4 in. (13.5 x 11 x 12 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 71.12. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.12_front_PS1.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 71.12_front_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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