An Unpublished Amenhotep III Faience Plaque from Mycenae

Two fragments of a faience plaque with cartouche of Amenhotep III, found at Mycenae by Taylour in 1968 and 1969, are demonstrated to be fragments from one of at least six, and possibly as many as nine, Egyptian faience plaques found at this site. Eleven such fragments have been unearthed at Mycenae since 1886, all in probable LH IIIB contexts. Taylour's fragments provide valuable information for a new reconstruction of all Egyptian faience plaques found at this site. These plaques were originally rectangular, of white faience, blueor green-glazed, and measured ca. 11 cm in width, 1.5 cm in depth, and between 10 and 20 cm in length. They were identically inscribed the good god Neb-Ma'at-Re, son of Re, Amenhotep, Ruler of Thebes, given life (ntr nfr Nb-m3ct-Rc SD RC Imnhtp bci? wist di Cnh) on both front and back. They belong to category of large faience plaques used extensively in Egypt primarily in foundation deposits, especially during late Eighteenth Dynasty. Their function at Mycenae is uncertain. They most likely arrived at Mycenae during LH IIIAI period. It has been speculated that they may be related to an official Egyptian embassy, which may be documented on Amenhotep III's 'Aegean' list at Kom el-Hetan in Egypt

Art · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Ancient Near East History · Archaeological Research and Protection · History

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