Two Royal Attendants (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

1365–1345 BC
Egyptian
limestone, pigment modern?
Egypt
Overall: 9 × 19 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (22.86 × 49.53 × 3.81 cm)
61.5

These attendants are probably part of a royal chariot procession. They lean forward as if running, hold small fans with three ostrich plumes, and wear elaborate wigs and disc earrings. Adult men are rarely shown with disc earrings, which may mark this image as another Amarna departure from tradition. The fans are associated with high officials with the honorific title “bearers of the fan on the right of the king.” The title indicated closeness to the king, though lesser functionaries probably actually fanned him.

18
New Kingdom, Amarna Period
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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