This obsidian head, a masterpiece of Egyptian craftsmanship, was part of a full-length statue that probably portrayed king Senwosret III in his mature years. The king is wearing a pleated head-dress (nemes), with the sacred serpent (uraeus), the symbol of royal power.

In this piece the artist conveys the impression of a firm but very human character, though revealing the burden of enormous responsibility inherent in his position.

Made of obsidian, volcanic glass, a material of great strength and fragility, this portrait was produced at a time when a definite cultural and artistic renaissance was taking place in Egypt, as was illustrated by the flourishing of portraiture.

Senwosret III, who ruled Egypt for about 39 years, was a great king of the 12th Dynasty and is considered to be, perhaps, the most powerful Egyptian ruler of the dynasty.

During his reign, artists did not follow the older idealistic forms in rendering the features of the royal sculptures, but showed a tendency towards more realistic, mostly exaggerated features.

Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c. 1860 BC. MacGregor Collection. Acquired by Calouste Gulbenkian through Kehyaian at the sale of MacGregor Collection, Sotheby’s, London, 6 July 1922. Now in the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. Inv. 138

The Josephson Head. MFA, Boston. Accession Number: 2003.244 This head of a man dates from the Middle Kingdom, and the facial features and characteristics depicted are easily recognizable from the reign of Senwosret III. Although, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, lists this head as belonging to an Official, it…

Kheperkare Senwosret I was the son of Amenemhat I, who became Co-Regent alongside his father, sometime after his father’s 20th Regnal Year.Senwosret, following in the footsteps of his father, led brutal campaigns south into Nubia, dominating the region all the way down to the Second Cataract of the Nile, documented…

Grey Granite Statue depicts King Amenemhat III. Amenemhat III meaning “Amun is at the forefront”, was the son of the great king Senwosret III, and the sixth king of Ancient Egypt’s 12th Dynasty. Amenemhat Ill’s features are clearly marked and give life to a highly individualistic portrait quite unlike the…