DOC Tshepang: The Third Testament (Oberon Modern Plays) by Lara Foot Newton in Arts-Photography

Description

The Crown of Arsinoeuml; II is a detailed study of a unique crown that was created for the Ptolemaic Egyptian Queen Arsinoeuml; II which has important conclusions for ancient Egyptian history. Images of Arsinoeuml; are represented in a broad spectrum of iconographic media; depicting this historical figure in a Greek as well as Egyptian cultural setting; and as queen and goddess alike; though her tomb has never been found. Based on detailed examination of reliefs; the aim is to identify and understand the symbolism that is embedded in each pictorial detail that together form the crown; as well as all contextual aspects of the relief scenes; and how this reflects the wearers socio-political and religious positions. The results of this study suggest that the crown of Arsinoeuml; was created for the living queen and reflected three main cultural positions: her royal position as King of Lower Egypt; her cultic role as high priestess; and her religious aspect as thea Philadelphos . It indicates that she was proclaimed female pharaoh during her lifetime and should be included in the official pharaonic king list as Ptolemy IIs co-regent: her royal authority should be considered equivalent to Hatshepsut; Tawosret and Amenirdis II; as one of the most important royal women in Egyptian history. Arsinoeuml;s complex persona were embedded in a very unique attribute her crown and that this remained a symbol of authority throughout the last centuries of the ancient Egyptian period.