Egypt Picture - Gold Diadem of Sithathoriunet

Gold Diadem of Sithathoriunet

Gold Diadem of Sithathoriunet

Photographer:

Unknown

Title:

Gold Diadem of Sithathoriunet

Description:

When Flinders Petrie and Guy Brunton explored the shaft tomb of Princess Sithathoriunet in 1914 (located in the funerary complex of Senusret II), they found little apart from her red granite sarcophagus and a set of canopic jars, the vessels which accompanied each burial to house the internal organs. Then they discovered a niche in the wall that had been plastered over. Inside were five boxes containing Sithathoriunet's jewelry, a mirror, razors and pots for cosmetics.

The prize piece in this collection is a diadem in the form of a uraeus, a broad band of gold decorated with the royal cobra and rosettes. It also has two gold plumes and three sets of detachable gold streamers. It would have been worn on top of a wig made up of dozens of long braids held in little gold clasps. The cobra's head is made of lapis lazuli and the eyes of garnets set in gold rims. The rosettes are inlaid with lapis, carnelian and green faience in imitation of feldspar and turquoise. The diadem is now on display in the Cairo Museum.


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