6-2 Final Project Two, Milestone 3: Object Labels
HIS-665-Q5514 Museum Collection Management
Professor Ricker
Brent Stone
(August 15th, 2023)
It is rare when there seems to be no apparent bright spot, presaged by duty, that can be sighted anywhere. At this juncture, I feel the urge to make a concerted effort to ferret out any benefits or would be upsides to whatever lies before me. It is unusual when upsides or bright spots are not forthcoming despite my efforts, in which case, elbow grease, academic or otherwise is the answer. This assignment, however, is full of fizz and ginger due to the topic in question. The 18th dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
5 years ago, I would not have given a second thought to the topic of ancient Egypt. Such is certainly not the case now and I have decided to make the 18th dynasty the topic of my virtual exhibit in what is certainly a low-key compliment to the vast and extensive collection the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC has of ancient Egyptian artifacts. There will be ten primary objects in this exhibit with lesser ones that would equate to, in culinary terms, entrées.
There will be ten artifacts (#1-10) with labels and there will be 3 categories. The categories will be personal items, statues and monuments and records and steles. Some rulers such as the last ruler of the 18th dynasty, Horemheb will only get a mention along with their picture and perhaps a tidbit or two. Others such as Ankhesenamun (the wife of Tutankhamun), Hatshepsut and Thutmose III will spend a greater amount of time in the spotlight.
While elemental at the present, these object labels foreshadow an exhibit that will be aimed at arousing the curiosity of people within every group, age, interest and inclination. There really is so much in the 18th dynasty that, while not common knowledge, is interesting and unanticipated. It would be these unexpected situations and events that my virtual exhibit would capitalize on, whether the carrot is a story format, sequential and interesting facts, or a combination added to the traditional museum scene and seasoned with contemporary innovation and technology. This may not yet seem apparent in these labels, but the intent and planning are in the works. On to the labels of the 18th dynasty!
Ahmose:
Ahmose was the founder of the 18th dynasty. Unlike Akhenaten, Ahmose is a Pharaoh whom succeeding dynasties smiled upon. On the left there is his statue (entree) and, on the right is his golden armband (entree). The item (#1) of interest (Personal item) is the middle picture, which is a depiction from his battle ax portraying his conquering of (likely) the mysterious Hyksos just prior to reuniting upper and lower Egypt.
Amunhotep I: 
Tutmosis I: 
Tutmosis II: 
He had no surviving sons. His mummy is still lost. He married his half-sister Hatshepsut.
Hatshepsut: 
For this ruler we have a double feature, a personal item (#2) and a monument (#3) along with three entrees. The second picture with the sweltering tourist in front of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, falls under the monument category. Interestingly, the sun happens to set right behind the mortuary complex, directly opposite Karnak temple across from the Nile River.
The 4th picture is Hatshepsut’s mortuary chest with her cartouche on it. It was discovered (along with many other royal mummies near the Valley of the Kings) not far from her, yet to be identified mummy. The chest, too long sealed, held the risk of breaking in the event of prying. Although the suspicion was that Hatshepsut’s mummy was among the royal mummies found near the valley of the Kings, there was no conclusive proof until part of a missing molar in one of the royal mummy’s mouth exactly matched part of a molar inside the chest, discovered during a CT scan.
So, the chest is a significant personal item (#2). The first entrée/picture is her statue. The 3rd picture is the top of her obelisk which shows her in male regalia with Amun-Ra (two feathers in the crown, upper and lower Egypt) seated on a throne behind her along with her cartouche. The last picture is a digital reconstruction of Hatshepsut’s mummy. (temple/monument #3)
Tutmosis III: 
This is another double feature, and it involves the Napoleon of ancient Egypt! He is not as well-known as Ramses II. He did have greater military success and there is no record in ancient Egyptian history that he lost a battle, though how and why he died has been a mystery. The first statue does not look like the second statue (#4 statue) from the British museum. On the front of the second statue would be the cartouche of Ramses II, and on the upper rear of the second statue, almost obscured, is the cartouche of Tutmosis III. Royal reappropriation! The second picture is the cartouche of Tutmosis III which is taken from his obelisk in the 4th picture. The fifth picture would be a stele (#5 records) commemorating one of his 17 victories! Amenhotep II: 
Tutmosis IV: 
Amenhotep III: 
His brother, Amenemhat, His mummy is well He is regarded as one of the
1st son of Tutmosis III died preserved and looks youthful. more successful Pharaohs of the
under unknown circumstances. 18th dynasty.
Akhenaten: 
We have here another double feature! It is fair to say that Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) received about the same treatment from succeeding dynasties as Richard III received from the house of Tudor. Both were vilified in every possible way. Akhenaten was known as the heretic Pharaoh for attempting to switch Egypt (or Kemet as it was known at that point) from polytheism to monotheism.
There is some information which hints that his main offense was in trying to thwart the growing power of the priests of Amun. The nobility (or Nomarchs) had, for the most part disappeared at the tail end of the 12th dynasty. Besides the Pharaoh, there were no longer any nobility to compete with the priests for power. Interestingly, Akhenaten’s statues all look alike. The first picture is a statue (#6) of Akhenaten and the second picture displays (#7 records) his cartouche which is much more crowded than the cartouche of a traditional Pharaoh. The third picture/entree is of Akhenaten worshiping Aten. Where Akhenaten got the idea for monotheism is an interesting mystery...
Neferneferuaten: 
Smenkhkara: 
There is unconfirmed speculation that Most historians believe that Smenkhara
this ruler was Nefertiti, Akhenaten’s was a daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti who
Queen who ruled for a short time. also ruled for a short time.
Tutankhamun: 
For this section there cannot be too much said that the public doesn’t already know about. But does the intent of interest and surprise stand a chance without subsequent attempts? The latest information is that Tutankhamun died away from Egypt in battle and, among other significant injuries, there are ribs missing from his right side. And unlike other Pharaoh’s it does not seem as if the embalming process for him was entirely desirable or successful. The first picture is an entrée and the second (#8 personal item) is an exact copy of the chariot found in his tomb. This would fall under the category of a large personal item. The picture was taken in Seoul Korea at the Korean War Memorial Museum on loan from the Berlin Musuem 2021-2022.
Ankhesenamun: 
Very little if anything is ever said of Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife, whether because he overshadows her or because some people believe that they have no chance at pronouncing her name and even less inclination to try. The first picture (#9 statues) taken at Luxor(?) temple would be seated statues of Tutankhamun and Ankheseamun and this would fall under statues and monuments. The second picture of the couple, specifically the Queen would be from the golden throne of Tutankhamun. The next entrée picture would be of a reconstructed vase with the cartouche of both the young King and Queen. The next item (#10 records) would be a communication from Ankhesenamun to the King of the Hittite Empire, who happened to be their rival superpower at that point.
It is addressed to the Hittite King Suppiluliumas and it is in the Hittite script which explains why there are no ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics on it. In short, Tutankhamun had died, and the communication was received with dubious interest by the King of the Hittites. It was a marriage proposal. Ankhesenamun was desperately trying to remain in power. In the end the Hittite King sent his second son who was ambushed on the way to Egypt to marry Ankhesenamun. She disappears from Egyptian history after this. Ay: 
Horemheb: 
