Functionality of Reserve Heads

These Old Kingdom reserve heads as they are known appear to be funerary in nature. Nearly all are carved in white limestone but at least one is made from Nile mud.

Many appear to be actual portraits while some are too idealized to be portraits of the tomb owners in which all the heads were found.

Harvard Egyptologist Dr. George Reisner found most of the heads in tombs from the fourth dynasty at Giza relating to courtiers of pharaoh's Khufu and Khafre. One was found by Jacques de Morgan in 1894 at Saqqara.

One of the heads was undisturbed since the day of burial and was found in the burial chamber next to the sarcophagus. The other heads were found scattered around the tombs and in their shafts discarded by ancient robbers.

One of the heads which came from Giza tomb G4940B and now in the Boston museum of fine arts has a heavily plastered attachment to its face and holes indicating the ears were in another material.

Some have suggested the heads were created as molds for funerary masks.

The heads show that the royal court of this dynasty contained members of a number of races.

The practice of mummification at this period was not perfected and these heads may be an early form of Ka statue for this nearly three dozen courtiers of the fourth dynasty.

Egyptian Film Legend Dies

Egyptian director Youssef Chahine has passed away in Cairo at the age of 82.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7527562.stm

Djedefre's Solar Boat

Though found next to the pyramid of the 4TH Dynasty king Khufu the boats were not buried by king Khufu but rather by king Djedefre.

The massive stone blocks which cover the pits housing the boats contained a number of inscriptions relating to king Djedefre with one inscription giving the year date of eleven of this king.

Making the solar boat's gifts from Djedefre to his deceased father king Khufu.

My Cold Naked Body

At some time in ancient history, these were living beings with all their sensitivity and foibles of being alive. Everyone dies but not everyone has their body turned into a mummy and the people who do not want to look at the dead probably should not.

The point is made moot by the very fact that I already have pictures of the mummy named Asru. Whether the other mummies are also published or are to be left unstudied in the name of false decency remains to be seen.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1059840_mummies_coverup_reversed

British Museum Studies on Ancient Egypt and Sudan #9

The British Museum studies on ancient Egypt and the Sudan has published its issue number nine.

The articles include "Who was who on Elephantine in the third millennium BC".

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/online_journals/bmsaes/issue_9.aspx

The Stanford Papyrus Collection

This collection donated in the 1920's to the university are now being analyzed. The collection appear to be Ptolemaic.

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2008/july23/papyri-072308.html

Yesterday's Times

Here we have a 1898 announcement of an exhibit by Professor's Petrie and Quibell.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9807E3DC1F3DE433A25751C2A9619C94699ED7CF

King Khufu's Solar Boat

Finally we have an image inside the pit so we can look at the planks of the ship. However the video claims that the boat will not be assembled in contradiction to an earlier article.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080721-boat-video-ap.html

Egyptian Queen's in Monte Carlo

A culmination of the contribution of 40 museums artifacts relating to the royal women of ancient Egypt has brought together 250 pieces for this exhibition.

Out Comes the Second Solar Boat

This article has an image of the boat lying at the bottom of its pit next to the great pyramid. Unfortunately, the pictures focus is Dr. Hawass.

It appears the decision has been made to reconstruct this second boat.

A Place to Avoid

Though Heliopolis has only one true standing monument, its obelisk, even with the additional sculptures it may be a pass on your next trip.

http://touregypt.net/teblog/luxornews/?p=815

Egypt to Indianapolis

Egyptian objects from the Brooklyn Museum are to go on display in Indianapolis.

http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=25083

Solar Boat Better Left Where It Is

A second boat found next to King Khufu's pyramid will now have a camera staring at it in its pit. There is talk about reconstructing the boat but some like myself believe it should stay in its pit.

An End to the Mubarak Reign

Elements such as many world famous museums and universities spend their money and time currying favor with Egypt's dictator with no concern for the little people who are of no concern to institutions such as those who spend large amounts of money to curry the favor of Egypt's dictator.

http://news.nationalgeographic.cSave NowomNowom/news/2008/07/08egyptefood.html.html

Discovering Edfu

This interesting article is very informative on recent discoveries at Edfu.

http://www.eturbonews.com/3212/chicago-university-discovers-ancient-egyptian

Mummy Turning to Dust

A museum director in India appears to be negligent of his duty and a Ptolemaic priestess may vanish for his efforts

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/2278-yr-old_mummy_dying_a_slow_death/articleshow/3130065.cms