In Egypt, the Pharaoh was the centre of the universe. He was a god-king, and had a direct personal relationship to the gods which was not shared by any of his subjects, even priests. The offerings at the temple were carried out on his behalf, and at his behest. The Pharaoh could not, obviously, have been there in person at each temple for every offering since, for his time on Earth, he was confined to a human body. Therefore, the image of the Pharaoh became of paramount importance. By placing his image in the temples, it was ensured that the Pharaoh was ‘present’ at the important rituals. By ensuring that all offerings were listed as ‘offerings which the King gives…” (htp-di-nsw), the intercession of the monarch could be simulated for even the most humble of gifts. Simultaneously, the image of the Pharaoh was full of political and diplomatic importance. By creating towering statues of himself, Pharaoh could impress both ally and enemy, and enhance the prestige of Egypt at home and abroad.

This beautiful portrait represents one of the later Pharaohs in Egyptian history. From its style, we can tentatively associate this image with Nectanebo I, a powerful king who founded the last native Egyptian dynasty. He has soft, rounded features; his eyes are an especially elongated almond shape, which is indicative of portraits of Nectanebo; his nose is also soft and rounded, though is partly damaged; his eyebrows are full and sit low on his forehead; and his thick lips curl up in a slight smile. He wears the nemes headdress, a popular crown consisting of a striped fabric head-covering, held in place with a diadem, and with two lappets that fall over the King’s shoulders. At the centre of the forehead was placed the uraeus, an image of the cobra goddess Wadjet, who could ward off enemies by spitting fire at them. This symbolised the Pharaoh’s role as protector of his people. The piece is conducted in an archaising style, which looks back on the great Egyptian art of the New Kingdom Golden Age, thereby associating that Pharaoh with the likes of Amenhotep III and Ramses II and III.

Nectanebo I reigned at an important time in Egyptian history. He overthrew the unpopular and incompetent Pharaoh Nepherites II, whose disastrous reign lasted only four months. Nectanebo was a great builder and restorer of Egypt’s temples, investing in the temple infrastructure at a rate and to an extent not seen in the country for centuries; his most notable architectural achievement was the installation of a new pylon (gateway) at the Temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak. Stelae from the period indicate that Nectanebo was also generous in his donations to the temples, in one case offering ten percent of the import taxes collected at Thonis-Herakleion to the Temple of Neith at Sais. But his greatest importance was as a military man. During his reign, in 374/3 BC, a vast Persian army of 200,000 men and 500 ships was sent to retake Egypt, which had been a Persian satrapy between 525 BC and 404 BC. Through his own cunning, and the help of the Greek general Chabrias, Nectanebo fought the Persians to a standstill until the Nile flood cut off the Persian forces and required them to retreat. Sadly, though, Nectanebo’s successes did not last, and it was his grandson (or great-nephew), Nectanebo II, who would be the last native ruler of Ancient Egypt.

References: this portrait bears striking similarities to the portrait of Nectanebo I in London (British Museum EA97).