Female Figures In Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt is vastly celebrated for its grand pyramids, temples and colossal statues that bear many reminders of their powerful kings. Yet, the legacies of their queens have not been forgotten. Their marks have been left consistently on monuments, chapels, wall decorations, and portrait statues to name a few. Egyptian women are often prominent figures in every scene they’re portrayed in. In fact, the prominence of female figures in ancient African art is not only limited to Egypt, but is also found throughout the Nubian kingdom in similar but strikingly different ways. While most Nubian rulers were male, there is clear evidence for the presence of queens on the throne as suggested in the artwork. Upon further examining the history and culture …show more content…
The stele depicts the accession of the king and his procession through Egypt, celebrating his victories. His wife, Queen Awlhata, accompanies the king. One aspect that’s important to note about the queen is her regalia, which highlights her role and importance in the kingdom. Egyptian pharaoh costume and regalia were often adopted for the depiction of Kushite kings as seen here in the Stele. Kushite queens, on the other hand, look much less “Egyptian” than the kings. The queen has a large shawl wrapped around her body and draps over her shoulder. A small tab-like item hangs below the hem of her dress and falls towards the ground. This tab item has been described as a “little” tail, and has fine ridges on its surfaces. Many scholars believe that this tab is interpreted as a type of badge of honor identifying the female as a “Kandake”. The importance of identifying the queen as a kandake lies in the fact that as the king’s wife, she legitimizes the rule of the king. Without the queen, the king could not rule or claim his heir to the thrown. The importance of electing the kandake was just as important as electing the king, as we have already seen on the Pylon of the Lion Temple at Naqa. While the Stele was mainly focusing on the king, it’s important to note the presence of the queen and her contribution to the king’s …show more content…
For example, it’s easy to assume that figures who are placed behind one another are seated behind one another. Yet, this can most certainly be an artistic perspective in which figures are actually meant to be sitting side by side. With this sort of thinking in mind, one must reexamine artwork in the context of the figures who appear to be sitting or standing next to the king: the queen. The queens in both regions have built a large repertoire in the art world, appearing on tomb chapels, funerary stele, offering tables, wall reliefs, and portrait statues to name a few. Yet, while both queens in Nubia and in Egypt appear to have immense power as demonstrated through their regalia, their postures, the context in which they are depicted, there are a few variations in the way this is executed. In Egypt as we have seen, queens appear as companions to their male counterparts, acting as a visual object, rather than a fierce leader. However, it’s important to note that the queen’s significance is not underrated, as she still stands equally to the king. In Nubia on the other hand, the queen is depicted as equal to the king in both statue and in strength. Nubian queens are depicted to have physical and both political power, something that the king may or may not also hold title