Third Intermediate Period
Twenty-fifth Dynasty (ca. 1069-656 B.C.)
and
Late Period
Twenty-sixth Dynasty, (ca. 664-343 B.C.)

During much of the Third Intermediate period, Egypt was ruled by men of foreign birth or descent and sometimes divided among rivals for the throne. Centralized rule was restored during the Late Period, but Egypt would never again be the dominant international power it had been.
Throughout this period, however, Egyptian art remained vital, and metal statuary reached a pinnacle of splendor.

The Divine Consort or Queen,sumptuously inlaid with gold and silver, shows the technique of combining different metals to create rich color contrast.

During the Third Intermediate Period, artists often imitated the style of earlyer periods. This practice, called archaism, can be detected in all but the ealyest periods of Egyptian art, but it reached its peak at this time. The
Divine Consort's figure, with its high, narrow waist, from which a long continuous line joins the hips to the low-slung curve of the thighs, is derived from female statues of the Middle Kingdom.This woman was likely the daughter of one of the Third Intermediate Period's Kushite rulers, represented in her priestly role as the Divine Consort of the Egyptian god Amun.

Compiled by Edna R. Russmann and Deborah Schwartz
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Divine Consort or Queen
Proably from the Theban era
Late Third Intermediate Period,
Twenty-fifth Dynasty, (ca. 716-656 B.C.)
Bronze, gold and silver inlays, 8 1/2 inches.

[This message was edited by Inda on Monday March 8th, 2004 at 06:25 PM.]

Late Period
Sarcophagus
Dynasties XXII-XXV,
(ac. 9th-8th century B.C.)
painted wood, 77 1/4 inches

Thank you.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this whole series of posts and images.

Gisele

Dear Inda, I highly appreciate these posts. Just lacking time to go through with full attention.
As soon as possible I will be back enjoying them again.
Love, Margherita

Thank you for sharing.

Sue

Thank you for this series of posts. This is very interesting and educational material. I am printing it all out.

Vicky