statue of Akhenaten with a female figure

cairo egyptian museum-statue of Akhenaten with a female figure-This unfinished seated statue of Akhenaten illustrates well the unusual features of art in this period. The king is depicted sitting on a throne, wearing the Blue Crown, with the royal uraeus at his forehead. The female figure, sitting on his lap, is thought to be his daughter Meritaten; however, it is also possible that the female figure is Akhenaten’s second wife, Kiya, as it was conventional for children to be depicted with a side-lock of youth, whereas here the female figure wears a wig, typical of an adult. Akhenaten is shown with his right hand on the female figure’s chest, while she touches his elbow. It was not normal in Egyptian art to show such a close relationship between the king and his children, if indeed this is what is depicted here, but after Akhenaten’s religious revolution such subjects began to be shown for the first time, including scenes of the royal family enjoying themselves in the palace. cairo egyptian museum-statue of Akhenaten with a female figure-JE 44866 B; limestone; H. 39.5cm; 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom; Tell el-Amarna; Ground Floor, Hall 8