Head of a King or Deity

4th century B.C.E.

The slight smile, soft facial features, and downward-pointing viper on the brow (where there would normally be a rearing cobra) of some of these images suggest that they represent one or more of the kings of the fourth century b.c.e. Whether sculptors’ models or temple offerings (see case label), they illustrate the diversity contained in and the problems associated with this well-attested category of Egyptian art.

For example, the full-figure statuette here (33.593) might seem indeed to have been an artist’s trial piece, and yet its arms are squared off as one would not expect to find on a model. Similarly, the busts might appear to be temple offerings, but several of them have artists’ working marks such as L-shaped depth guides (70.91.2) or a grid pattern (16.76).