Egyptian sculpture

158 EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE

arm are indicated, and the hands show a considerable amount of character, the fingers close firmly over the objects they hold; they contrast favourably with the pudgy hands of the late New Kingdom. The globular breasts follow the New Kingdom convention, which always represents them as those of a very young woman, even when the age is contradicted by the face, as here. The legs are more shapely than in the figures of the preceding and succeeding periods, the ankles more slender, the feet better rendered. The face is remarkable for the keen expression of life; the level brows and firm mouth give definite character, while the regular features and oval contour show both beauty and charm. There are two striking faults; one is the position of the eyeballs, which protrude too far; this is counteracted to a great extent by the shape of the eyes, which are large and well opened. The other fault is in the representation of the ears; they are set in the right place, but are exaggerated in size, and, in order that they may be seen from the front, are made to stand almost at right angles from the head. The elaborate wig is the precursor of the hair-dressing of the Ptolemaic period, with which it should be compared (Pls. LI. 3; LV.) in order to appreciate the delicate work of the XXVth dynasty. The queen’s ornaments consist of anklets, bracelets, vulture-wings over the head, a triple uraeus on the brow, and a circular crown of uraeus-heads. The triple uraeus is, I believe, unique, or at any rate extremely rare. Professor Petrie suggests that it represents Upper and Lower Egypt and Ethiopia, the double uraeus representing Upper and Lower Egypt. The circular crown of uraeus-heads begins in the New Kingdom, and when first introduced has either vertical sides or sides which slope slightly outwards; the crown of Amenardus slopes slightly inwards. The material of the statue is alabaster, a soft stone