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Tutankhamun ring bezels 

EC3046We have more ring bezels of Tutankhamun from Amarna in the Egypt Centre than any other king. The top image is of EC3046 a ring bezel shoing the king’s prenomen (throne name) Neb-kheperu-re meaning either ‘Lord of manifestations of Re’ . The bottom ring bezel (W1160n) has his nomen Tut-ankh-aten  meaning ‘Living image of the Aten’. He changed his name to Tut-ankh-amun, ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt when the worship of Amun rather than the Aten was reinstated. Very few ring bezels with the new nomen, Tut-ankh-aten have been found at Amarna (we have none in the Egypt Centre) suggesting that by the time the worship of Amun was reinstated, Amarna was unlikely to have been the royal residence.

By this date, Egyptian kings had 5 names, but only the nomen

and pre-nomen were written in a cartouche.

W1160nThis use of ring bezels bearing a king’s name could be seen as kingly propaganda or a demand from the populace for the protection, connection with divinity, or social status resulting from contact with the king’s name.  

Kate Bosse Griffiths (1980, 71-72) believed faience rings were only given to important people. However, while a number were owned by Tutankhamun, or at least found in his tomb, others were found in houses of commoners at Amarna (Boyce 1989, 168). Some were even found in the workmen’s village. Amulets too are found across the social strata (Boyce 1995, 339). It has been suggested that some rings may not have been worn as rings but rather suspended or even used as foundation deposits (Boyce 1989, 161). The size of some (too small or large to wear on a finger) suggests use as a votive offering or to be hung round the neck. All, including those with the names of kings, were probably amuletic. It is usually postulated that they were produced for important events and celebrations, though there is no proof that this was the case.  

Whether or not Tutankhamun ever ruled from Amarna is debateable. There are, for example no foundations of buildings nor stamped bricks bearing his name. Based on the evidence of wine labels, it seems probable that the Royal Court moved from Amarna in year three of the reign of Neferneferuaten (Kraus 2007). Certainly that the cult of Amun had been reinstated at Thebes under this ruler is suggested by the Tjay inscription mentioning the House of Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten at Thebes.

Rings were made by casting ring and bezel in separate moulds (Boyce 1989, 162). 

References and Further Reading

Bosse-Griffiths, K. 1980. Two Lute-Players of the Amarna Era. In Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 66, 70-82. 

Boyce, A. 1989. Notes on the Manufacture and Use of Faience Rings at Amarna. In Kemp, B.J. Amarna Reports V. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 160-168. 

Boyce, A. 1995. Collar and Necklace Designs at Amarna: A Preliminary Study of Faience Pendants. In Kemp, B.J. Amarna Reports VI. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 336-371. 

Krauss, R. 2007. Eine Regentin, ein König und eine Königin zwischen dem Tod von Achenaten und der Thronbesteigung von Tutanchaten, Altoriental. Forschungen, 34 (2007/2), 294–318.

Shaw, I. 1984. Ring Bezels at Amarna. In Kemp, B.J. Amarna Reports I. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 124-132. 

Stevens, A. 2006. Private Religion at Amarna. The Material Evidence. BAR International Series 1587. Oxford: Archeopress.  

Amarna ring bezels with cartouches in the Egypt Centre

 

 

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