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@patrickkapty.bsky.social Sep 30, 2026, 4:24 PM

The King of Egypt as a Lion Subduing a Nubian
carved gold, Egyptian Blue pigment
c. 1279-1213 BCE
Reign of Ramesses II
Ancient Egypt

#ancient #art #ancientart #propaganda #ancientegypt #RamessesII #ideology #conquest #newkingdom #egypt #gold #EgyptianBlue #pigment #flywhisk #whip #MetMuseum #NYC

This piece, fashioned from Egyptian Blue and gold, presents a striking image of the head of a Nubian man engulfed by the jaws of a lion.
Egyptian blue is the world's oldest known synthetic pigment, created over 5,000 years ago in ancient Egypt to mimic expensive natural stones like lapis lazuli and turquoise. Made by heating a precise mixture of silica (sand), copper (like malachite or metal filings), calcium (lime/chalk), and an alkali flux (such as natron or plant ash). Heated in a kiln at temperatures between 800°C and 1000°C (about 1,470°F to 1,830°F) for hours to form a glassy blue compound, which was then cooled, crushed, and ground into a powder paint.
Though compact in scale, the piece is monumental in its ideological intent. Most likely the terminal of a ceremonial fly whisk or whip, the handle is more than decorative; it is a potent visual expression of royal power and Ancient Egyptian supremacy.
The lion, sculpted in lustrous gold and detailed with stylised precision, symbolises the pharaoh himself, a living god and the ultimate authority over Egypt and its dominions. Its grip upon the Nubian's head is not merely violent but
symbolic, embodying Egypt's dominance over its southern neighbours and reiterating the pharaoh's divine role as protector and conqueror.
The object is said to originate from Qantir, in the eastern Delta region of Egypt, the site of ancient Pi-Ramesses, the grand capital city established by Ramesses II. In the king's day, this area would have been a flourishing centre of political power, military activity, and artistic production. Situated strategically near the route to the Levant, Pi-Ramesses was both a royal residence and a critical base for Egypt's northern campaigns. Its palatial complexes, temples, and extensive workshops made it one of the most
important urban centres of the New Kingdom.
This object is now on display at the Met Museum, NYC, after being gifted by the Norbert Schimmel Trust in 1989.

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