Ancient Egyptian Granite Bust Of A Ptolemaic

Ancient Egyptian "Bust of a Ptolemaic"
The above listed item is from the Ptolemaic Period, (332-30 B. C. E. ) . This interesting item is carved from Black Granite. We acquired this lovely piece from a select private collection and (http://maplered.com) its provenance is from Alexand (http://maplered.com) ria, Egypt. The bust of this priestess is depicted with her wearing an elaborate veiled headdress and (http://maplered.com) topped with an Isis style throne crown. . This partial sculpture is intact with age wear. The reason for the item being available is due to the vast extent of archeological findings, thousand (http://maplered.com) s of years in Egyptian burials and (http://maplered.com) also the proliferation of these said items in older private collections worldwide.
"Priestess"
The status of priestesses at times was equal to, if not mirror to, that of the male priests. The priestesses held the main function within the temple to the tasks of music, dance and (http://maplered.com) invocation ceremonies. They were mostly identified with the goddess Hathor. In Thebes, at the Temple of Karnak, they held a much higher post with title of "God's wife" or the "High Priestess of Amun". The office of "Divine Adoratrice" in Thebes had evolved since the Middle Kingdom Period. During that period it was held by well-born noble women to serve at the Temple of Amun in Karnak. By the New Kingdom, Ahmose I appointed his Queen Nefertari to hold this high priestess position endowing her with wealth, land (http://maplered.com) s and (http://maplered.com) other entitlements. Seventy five years later, Queen Hatshepsut would hold this office lending her the advantage to justify her claims to assume the title of Pharaoh. This was the most powerful position for a woman to acquire during this period. During the Third Intermediate Period this title would held by celibate priestesses and (http://maplered.com) transferred only through adoption.