Dr. Peter J Brand Profile picture
Egyptologist & historian, University of Memphis. Karnak Hypostyle Hall Project #history #Ramesses #Egypt #Archaeology #ancient #antiquity #Egyptology

Oct 5, 2022, 10 tweets

2/ Ancient Egyptians used headrests instead of pillows on their beds. Tutankhamun took several of them to the Underworld, which we covered earlier. #Archaeology #archaeohistories #Archäologie #archéologie #考古学 #考古学 #考古學 #arqueología #archeologia #archeologie #αρχαιολογία

4/ Most impressive of all Tutankhamun's headrest was this spectacular piece made from 2 pieces of ivory joined with gold pins in the middle #पुरातत्व #고고학 #arqueologia #arkeoloji #археологія #arkeologi #археология

5/ The curved element at the top cradled the king's head as he slept. I also represents the horizon & is supported by a figure of Shu, the god of the air #mythology

6/ In Egyptian mythology, Shu supported his daughter, the sky goddess Nut and his father, the sun-god Re as he sailed across the sky each day. In this papyrus scene, Shu holds up his daughter Nut while his son the earth god Geb lied down at Shu's feet.

7/ When the king slept at night, his head became the sun-god Re, supported by Shu. Shu wears the hieroglyphic symbol for "protection" draped around his shoulders on either side.

8/ The two lions on either side of Shu represent the horizons that the sun rose and set between.

9/ These lions are often represented in tomb scenes and funerary objects like coffins and the Book of the Dead where they are called The Lions of Yesterday and Tomorrow. In this Book of the Dead papyrus, the sun is cradled in the horizon and rests on the 2 lions' backs.

10/ this rare photo shows the back of the headrest. A column of hieroglyphic texts on the back pillar gives Tutankhamun's prenomen & royal titles

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