Golden faces: a gilded relief from the time of ramses II

Abstract EN

A gilded block found at Abydos 150 years ago, currently belongs to the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The remarkable quality of the carvings on the block and the remains of gold leaf still visible on the faces of the divinities was a decisive factor for making the block a favorable choice for international exhibitions.

The block is today on tour to the United States titled “Ramses the Great and the Gold of The Pharaohs”, currently at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

This is not the first tour for the fragment as it traveled in 1998 to Italy on a tour called “Isis, the Egyptian goddess who conquered Rome”.

The block carries the cartouche of King Ramses II as well as figures of Isis, Osiris, and Anubis.

Additionally, it carries titles of a high ranking noble whose name is unfortunately missing.

The inscribed titles reflect the position of its owner as a scribe and a priest whose duties are strongly related to the king.

The block likely once belonged to a tomb or chapel related to a top elite member of the royal entourage.