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Material : Alabaster
Height : 38 . 8 CM
Found in : Thebes Valley of the Kings (tomb 55) (1907)
Period : The New Kingdom
Reign of : Akhenaton
Belonged_to: Akhenaten
Archeologist : T . M . DAVIS
This canopic vase was discovered among three other vases in the mysterious tomb no . 55 in the Valley of the Kings that belong to Smenkhkara , Akhenaten brother . These vases were prepared mainly to be placed in the tomb of Meritaten , the wife of Smenkhkara , but when he died at young age the vases then used for Smenkhkara himself .
The most fascinating feature in this alabaster vase is the head of the woman used as acover for it that is a splendid example of Amarna art exported to Thebes . This head is assumed to be the head of Meritaten and the same style was used later in Akhenaten tomb while decorated with the head of Kiya , Akhenaten second wife .
Meritaten is depicted wearing a shoulder long smooth wig with uraeus serpent on the forehead as a sign for royalty and a collar covering her shoulders . The facial features of the queen are depicted in the customary style of Amarna with almond-shaped eye with curved eyebrow heavily lined with kohl , slim and slender nose and small mouth .
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