Representation of Ptolemaic kings in cloaks on the walls of the Egyptian temples

Abstract EN

The ancient Egyptian kings used to be represented during the Pharaonic period wearing the kilt or the tunic, rarely they were represented in cloaks.

This could be related to the concept of the ancient Egyptian artist to represent the king in his ideal shape.

The youth of the king which is a symbol of his strength and ability to rule Egypt, could only be represented through showing him in just a kilt not in a robe or a cloak that hides his body.

It was not until the Graeco-Roman period, when the kings started to be more represented on the walls of the temples wearing the cloak.

The researcher noticed 13 scenes from Edfu, Dendara, and Khonsu temple at Karnak.

All of them show the king Ptolemy III, Ptolemy IV, or Ptolemy VIII.

The researcher will try to investigate the reason for these representations.

Could they be related to a certain ritual? Why those kings were the one that were represented in this shape?