If you were to fly over the ancient tombs in Egypt, from the
Middle Kingdom, and allowed visual access to their contents, you would see a myriad of objects.
Among these unique pieces, you would find many items crafted out of faience.
Faience is the decorated tin-glazed
earthenware seen throughout Egyptian art exhibitions. Due to the
brilliance of the Ancient Egyptians, it is no surprise that this creative
technique is actually a self-glazing ceramic. After the piece is formed,
the artist begins the drying process where the “sodium in the wet paste comes
to the surface as it dries and forms a glaze when it is fired in the kiln.[i]” This unique medium allows the artist to
create an object that can be fired and glazed in a single process.
Each
of these tombs are filled with numerous figurines created using faience, each
believed to serve a specific purpose for the deceased. Individually, these
objects are unique in their form, however, each piece in this exhibit share a
common thread based on the medium. Though these objects vary in form, they
appear to exist in a parallel function. It is commonly understood that
these figures were apotropaic, that is, created to ward off evil in the life
after death. Focusing on their intended purpose, this exhibition explores a small sample of the faience figurines found in
tombs from the Middle Kingdom.
Unknown, The Standing
Hippopotamus, ca. 1961-1878 B.C.E., Faience, 17.9.1
A few art historians and archaeologists have constructed ideas
pertaining to the intended purpose of The Standing Hippopotamus. Most
agree that this little figure, was placed in tombs to protect the dead.
Ancient Egyptians believed in a life after death and wanted to do
everything possible to allow it to be marked by success. As a culture,
whose identity centered around the Nile River, any predators that might prevent
people from utilizing the gift of the Nile, were very much feared. One of
the biggest predators to life on the Nile, are hippopotami. As such, there was
a constant struggle of trying to defeat the feared beasts. This is why
throughout Egyptian art, we see characters at war with the hippopotamus. People
would place this figure in the tomb to give the deceased person power over the
hippopotamus in his or her afterlife. Some critics have posed the idea that the
legs (now reattached) were intentionally broken off. This would ensure
the deceased would not only be unaffected by them, but would have full
dominance over the powerful creatures in the life to come.
Unknown, Cat
Figurine, ca. 1981-1802 B.C.E., Faience, 26.7.902
In Ancient Egypt, deities were depicted in various forms.
One common representation was in the form of a feline. In the Early
Dynastic Period, cat figures were placed around temples. In the Middle Kingdom,
there was a new belief that placing an image of their deity in the tomb would
give the person power in the next life. This figurine was likely placed in a
tomb to protect the dead from all danger after death. Egyptians believed that the presence of the
image of their deity would serve as a protector for their loved ones.
Unknown, Jerboa
Figurine, ca. 1850-1700 B.C.E., Faience, 15.3.127
In Middle Kingdom Egypt, another familiar image was the jerboa,
which was of special significance to the culture. This animal is
generally depicted in the same way this figure is seen, sitting on hind legs, front
paws raised. Though it is a typical pose that this rodent used when
eating, it is also a symbol of prayer. Many Egyptians formed jerboa
figures in this position as a sign of prayer. Typically, it was interpreted
that the jerboas were praying to the sun god. People would place this
figure, and others like it, in the burial chamber with the hope that the
deceased would one day be friends with the solar deity.
Unknown, Figure of
a Female Dwarf, ca. 1981-1640 B.C.E., Faience, 1972.48
Just as certain animals were depicted for religious purposes,
Ancient Egyptians had particular beliefs about dwarfs and pygmies. Based on
their short stature, it was assumed that they possessed special powers of
magic. Similar to the other figures, it could have been placed in tombs to give
special magical powers to the deceased. However, it is believed that this
particular figure was placed on the belly of a pregnant woman to help in
childbirth. This is another
representation of a naturalistic figure, that people in the Middle Kingdom
would recognize. Egyptians used this
dwarf figurine in the belief that it would help pregnant women in times of distress.
Unknown, Statue of
a Female Figure, ca. 1850-1640 B.C.E., Faience, 08.200.18
Unlike the Figure of a Female Dwarf, this Statue of a
Female Figure was created specifically for burial chambers. It was
believed that by placing this figure in proximity with the dead, it would give
reproductive powers, therefore allowing for a new life after death. It is
important to note that similar to the Standing Hippopotamus, this
figure’s legs have been broken off. While the hippo’s legs have been
recreated in later years, this figure continues to persist with legs absent. This brings to light a question pertaining to
the object’s intended purpose. As with
each of this objects from the distant past, it can be hard to find definitive
answers. But these two pieces beg the
question of what the user believed and what purpose did removing the legs
actually serve? This figure though intended for the burial chamber, seems to
serve a larger purpose.
Unknown, Lion Figure, ca.
1750 B.C.E., Faience, 22.1.178
This faience lion, though bleak, served a similar purpose to its
turquoise counterparts. Small lion figures like this one were created in
reference to the Egyptians god Bes, known to protect women and children. Typically,
it is depicted as a lion, or as a dwarf with a lion’s head. There is evidence
pointing to various anthropomorphic depictions of a lion-dwarf hybrid. A lion
such as this figure, would typically be placed in the tomb, sharing a similar
function as the Standing Hippopotamus, to protect the dead from evil
forces. These pieces were sacred objects that loved ones truly hoped would
bring great blessings to the deceased.
Unknown, Hedgehog, ca.
1938-1700 B.C.E., Faience, Brooklyn Museum
This dainty hedgehog figure
from the Middle Kingdom, is another typical animal represented during this
period. Hedgehogs live in dens, but their behavior is based on food. When
there is an abundance of food, hedgehogs roam about freely. In times of
scarcity, they usually retreat to their homes until the food situation changes.
Ancient Egyptians saw their emergence as a sign of rebirth, therefore
associating the hedgehog with abundance and life. This is also an object that
was discovered in a tomb, likely placed there to preserve the safety of the
deceased. These objects, though different in form, serve very similar functions
of preserving the body. Each piece is believed to offer some power to the
individual, leaving loved ones clinging steadfast to the hope that these
objects provided preservation and prolonged blessings.
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