W165

W165

Granite head with Nemes headcloth and uraeus. On stylistic grounds this could either be Amenhotep II or Thutmose III.  

Thutmose usually appears either wearing the nemes headcloth or the white crown. The nemes head cloth, shown on the king here, was a piece of striped cloth pulled tight across the forehead and tied at the back, while two strands of cloth hung down each side of the face. It was worn almost exclusively by kings from the 3rd Dynasty. 

The brow is also decorated with a uraeus, a rearing cobra. The uraeus snake is a symbol of kingship. It represents the Eye of Re and protects the king against his enemies.

Other items connected with kingship in the Egypt Centre