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Third Dynasty

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King Djozer
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Djozer wears an artificial Puntite or Ethiopian beard.
See Hatschepsuts relief from Dier-el-Bahari.
Djozer innitiated monumental architecture in Kmt, with the construction of his step pyramid.


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King Za-Nahkt
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Besides an inscription, this is the only known surviving image known of King Za-Nahkt.
Za-Nahkt is represnted with a large round nose and thick lips.


King Qa-Hedjt
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This royal relief depicts QaHedjt with the Heru.
QaHedjt is represented with a short depressed round nose, thick lips the lower being inverted, small almond shaped eyes, and well formed ears. He is wearing the white crown of Southern Egypt, and a false beard.



Male Ntr (divinity)
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This is the oldest known surviving statue of a standing Ntr. The figure is carved from a rare stone which the Egyptians quarried from the borders of distant Kush[1].
The statue is modeled with care, the full face is framed by a broad, round wig, is organized in horizontal bands: the upper lids of the eyes are emphasized by a large pouch of fat. The face a short wide nose and full thick lips.
The statue is believed to represent Onuris, who customarily wears a penis sheath[2], a round wig, and equips a weapon.



Princess Rdj.f
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"Her face, broad and flat with a high forehand .. the mouth is large and wide." A relief inscription at the base of the statue informs us Redjef is "true daughter of the King."
(ZIEGLER, C. Egyptian Art in The Age of The Pyramids.)

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Redjef's arched nose is an aboriginal African phenotype which can be found as far south as Uganda. This author see no reason to speculate on a non-Egyptian/African origin for later egyptians such as Queen Ahmose or the 19th Dynasty aristocracy with similar phenotypes.

Nilotic Phenotype - Central Africa/Uganda.


Chief Dentist, and head scribe Hesii-Ra
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Chief physician. This fine wood relief shows a man with a long fleshy nose, thick lips, the bottom being slightly inverted, Hesii-Ra, is represented with his natural tightly curled black hair and brown skin. The circular pattern covering his hair is a design motif which represents the spiral form of Negro hair. The spiral motif was part of the nefer design vocabulary and symbolized perfection and beauty[3].

"Because it can be precisely dated, and because the proportions of the figure are elegant and its details and expressions are realistic; the panel is considered one of the most important reliefs from the Old Kingdom."
(Labbe-Toutee, S.. Egyptian Art in The Age of The Pyramids.)
More on Hesii-Re


Khai Bau Sokar

"His titles include several priestly functions, relating to the cult of Anubis, Egyptian god Seth, and Seshat, goddess of writing and architecture. His other activities ranged from directing dancers to management of breweresses, but he was most particularly concerned with the carpenters and other craftsman.  As 'director of crafstman' he was entitlted to wear the collar of the high priest of Memphis, which curiously incorporates an elongated jackal who bends a pair of human hands in adoration."
(Terrance, E. Treasure of Egyptian Art from the Cairo Museum pg 37).

The strong treatment of Khai-Bau-Sokar's musculature immediately reminds us of several portraits of the powerful 25th Dynasty Kushite official Mentuhotep.
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Bedjmes the shipwright.
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Bedjmes is depicted with a flat oval face. His mouth is wde and his lips are thick. His nose is straight and fleshy. The eye lids are heavy, and the brow ridge is little developed.


Hathor Nefer Hotep
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A masterpeice of old kingdom relief sculpture. The face is treated with absolute realism. Careful attention is given to cheekbones, the double chin, and strong jaw.
"No other female in the old kingdom is treateed with such concern for anatomical realism."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Back to iconographic inquiry.


[1] "Anorthosite gneiss, often incorrectly called "Chephren's [that is, Khafre's] diorite," is puzzling. Found in a distant Nubian quarry, it is hard to work and only moderately attractive. However, it has a rare optical property -- it glows in sunlight. Its deep blue glow, caused by the presence of the iridescent mineral bytownite."

[2] - Similar penis sheathes are still customary in oriental Africa. tabuni_man.jpg 24.57 KB
[3] PETRIE, F. 1925. Buttons and Design Scarabs. British School of Archeology in Egypt. p12
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