By Allison Dixon
Daily Bruin Contributor
Though it lasted less than 20 years, ancient Egypt’s
Amarna period witnessed a series of dramatic political and
religious changes that were reflected in its innovative artistic
tradition.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art sheds new light on this
turbulent era with their “Pharaohs of the Sun” exhibit,
running through June 4.
The traveling exhibition features more than 250 artifacts from
35 collections around the world, including objects that have never
before left Egypt. “Pharaohs of the Sun” traces the
history of the brief but prolific era, using the largest ever
gathering of objects dating back to the Amarna period of 3,500
years ago.
The 17-year period known as “Amarna” represents the
era in which the pharaoh Amenhotep IV ““ who later changed his
name to Akhenaten ““ moved Egypt’s capital to the city
of Amarna where he and his wife Nefertiti ruled until his death.
The impetus for this change was both political and religious.
Akhenaten’s father, Amenhotep III, was the first king to
be deified during his lifetime. He claimed to be the embodiment of
Aten, the sun disk. Works in the exhibit from his rule include a
statue of Amenhotep III worshipping the Aten. Figures from his
reign also began to appear with narrow heads and fleshier torsos, a
precursor to the Amarna style.
Akhenaten instituted the first monotheism in history. As a
result, religious art from his era features the Aten exclusively.
As both the political and religious head of a monotheistic state,
Akhenaten became the sole conduit between the heavenly disk and the
people, thus many pieces in the exhibit that feature Akhenaten,
also feature the cartouche, or nametag, of the Aten.
Politically, monotheism eliminated the class of high-powered
priests that had previously enjoyed a great deal of political
influence. As a result, Amarna art features no priests.
The artistic style of this era underwent radical changes. Prior
to the Amarna period, pharaohs were idealized and depicted as
youthful, slender and athletic. During the Amarna period, however,
figures took on a new appearance with elongated heads, large
almond-shaped eyes, full lips, and bodies comprised of narrow
torsos that widened at the base, producing large bellies and hips.
This collection visually traces the emergence, crescendo, and
lasting influence of the unique style.
The exhibition features two colossal heads of Akhenaten in the
exaggerated Amarna style as well as sculptures of Nefertiti’s
head. These heads were carved by craftsman at various times
throughout the Amarna period and reflect the change from harsh,
caricature-looking faces to a more
naturalistic look.
The subject matter of the Amarna period was also innovative. The
focus shifted from scenes of royal ceremony to depictions of
everyday life at Amarna.
The famous “Stela of the Royal Family” is also on
display. This is an important piece because it is a good
demonstration of the Amarna style. The odd-shaped people in the
piece are shown in a very casual setting, with the royal couple
playing with their two daughters.
While the extreme Amarna style did not last very long, it had a
profound influence on later Egyptian art because of its
introduction of naturalism.
“Pharaohs of the Sun” traces the art beyond
Akhenaten’s rule, into the reigns of the pharaohs Tutankhamen
and Horemheb with sculptures such as “Tutankhamen Wearing a
Nemes Headdress” and “Maya and Meryt.”
The exhibition also includes household and funerary objects as
well as ancient Egyptian tools. There is even a model of the city
of Amarna showing the locations of key residences and temples.
“Pharaohs of the Sun” is an excellent exhibit for
families with audio tours for both children and adults. This
unprecedented exhibit is a must see for anyone interested in
Egyptian history, art or archaeology.
ART: “Pharaohs of the Sun” is a ticketed exhibition
at LACMA requiring an additional fee. Tickets range from $10 – $15
depending on day and time. For information or tickets call
1-877-522-6225.