Anonymous: Statue of Akhenaten (1353-1336 BC)

(Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt)

A statue made by unknown ancient Egyptian artists. This statue, along with other fragments of statues, were found in Eastern Karnak in Thebes. The statues represent the Egyptian pharao Akhenaten (also known as Amenophis IV or Amenhotep IV, reign circa 1353–1336 or 1351–1334 BC). The statues probably come from the early period of the reign of Akhenaten and show him wearing a kilt that hangs below his swollen stomach, the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt or the Pschent, as well as the Khat headdress. Akhenaten is holding the crook and flail in his hands, symbols of power and authority. The strange and eccentric portrayals of Akhenaten has sparked a lot of discussion and possible explanations: that the pharao was suffering from Marfan's Syndrome, Froehlich's syndrome or homocystinuria or that the is not to be read literally but symbolical. Statue from 1353-1336 BC.