| Ancient Egyptians
highly revered cats, as evidenced by this bronze statue (c.30 BC). Cats
were frequently the subjects of other carvings and wall paintings. They
were considered sacred and often were mummified after they died. |
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| This royal seal was
the possession of the Egyptian pharaoh Horemheb and dates from the beginning
of the 19th dynasty (1320-1200 BC). The scarabus beetle, a symbol of rebirth
and immortality in Egyptian mythology, is incorporated in the cartouche
of Horemheb. |
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| Ramses II, the third
king of the Egyptian 19th dynasty, is depicted in this stone sculpture.
His 67-year reign was a time of great prosperity and marked the height
of Egyptian military power, culminating in a peace treaty (1283 BC) with
the neighboring Hittites. |
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These mummified remains
are of Ramses II, one of the best-known rulers of ancient Egypt, who reigned
for 67 years (1304-1237 BC) during the 19th dynasty. One of his most important
achievements was establishing peace between Egypt and the Hittites during
the 21st year of his reign. In later years, he strengthened this accord
by marrying the daughter of a Hittite King.
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Cleopatra VII (69-30
BC), queen of ancient Egypt, appears in relief on the outer wall of the
temple at Dendera along with Caesarion, her son by Caesar. Although Cleopatra
passionately strove to restore Egypt's power and preserve its independence
from Rome, she ultimately undermined her own efforts. The Ptolemaic dynasty
was extinguished, and Egypt fell under Roman domination.
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The pharaoh Akhenaten
(r. 1379-1362 BC) carried the power of Egyptian kingship to its highest
point. Known as history's first monotheist, he tried to abolish Egypt's
traditional religion and replace it with the worship of the Aten (sun-disk),
of which he was the earthly manifestation.
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This relief
sculpture depicts an Egyptian king of the 30th dynasty (380-341 BC) with
the goddess Isis, who wears a vulture headdress with the Moon between cow's
horns.
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