Anonymous: House altar with Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their three daughters (1351-1334 BC)

(Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany)

A relief made by unknown Egyptian artists. This famous piece is a house altar and was found in a house in the city of Akhetaten (the new capital of Egypt founded by the pharao Akhetaten, now known as Amarna). This altar shows the pharao Akhetaten, Neferneferuaten Nefertiti (the great royal wife of Akhetaten) and three of their daughters Meritaten, Meketaten and Ankhesenpaaten (also known as Ankhesenamun who would later marry her father, her half-brother Tutankhamun and his successor Ay). The royal family is shown in a very informal way: Akhetaten is holding his oldest daughter Meritaten and is about to kiss her. Meritaten is pointing to her mother Nefertiti. On the lap of Nefertiti is sitting Meketaten who is pointing to her father and sister. Ankhesenpaaten is standing on Nefertiti's arm and playing with the earring of her mother. The family are sitting under the solar disc of Aten with the tips of the sun’s rays are shown as hands extending symbols of life towards the royal couple. This depiction of this ancient Egyptian royal family was very exceptional in ancient Egyptian art and is characteristic of the art during the reign of Akhetaten. Relief from 1351-1334 BC