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Tutankhamun's Painted Box

The Ends

At first glance the ends of Tut's painted box appear the same, but subtle design elements and painting style distinguish them. Both ends compose two elegantly symmetrical Tutankhamun-headed sphinxes facing each other, flanking two royal cartouches. The sphinxes symbolically trod and destroy Nubian enemies.

The cartouches are essentially the same on both ends, each topped by a feathered sundisc, each surmounting the hieroglyph for gold, although the left cartouches reverse the reading direction, the ancient Egyptian artist always mindful of symmetry. They identify the king's names, "Tutankhamun, ruler of Thebes" and "Nebkheperure." Outspread downwardly curved wings perfectly nest within the arch of the lid ends. Each lid end centers a cartouche with one of the king's names between two cobras.

In the rectangular vignette an arched striped fan rises above each sphinx's back, echoing the curve of the tail. The vulture goddess fits perfectly into each top corner, protectively spreading her wings above the sphinx-pharaoh, holding the shen hieroglyph. Here the design differs slightly on either end in the position of the wings.

The king wears a long wig or a nemes headdress under an atef crown, lean faced and kingly with a golden uraeus (sacred cobra) on his forehead. He also wears an elaborate golden cloak and shawl. Mrs. de Garis Davies noted that, "There are almost invisible details on the claws of the sphinx in yellow paint." 5

The Knob End

The other end with the knob still intact presents a more boy-like king-sphinx with a full face. His round wig is encircled by a blue spotted yellow ribbon whose streamers hang behind. The sphinx wears a striking body blanket of dark stripes and military style epaulettes. Even though the sphinx and the trodden enemy poses exactly match, the style differs from the other side as if the design were concieved by one master but the ends painted by two different artists.

Notice the checkered frame around the story board—it's not really checkered. Instead of diagonnally colored checks like everywhere else on the chest the little blocks look more like a basket weave. Other slight differences include the hieroglyphs and a pair of wings added here under the knob. This artist's unique style shines through the prescribed design. Was a second painter called in to finish the box in haste at the young king's death? Contemplating that mystery provides one more reason I, too, could hardly tear myself away from the 3356 year old exquisite little painted casket.

[« v.1-12 | Front of Chest | Chest Lid | Back of Chest | Chest Ends ]

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