Document Sealing With the Throne Name of Amenhotep III
Unknown Artist
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
Medium
Mud
Dimensions
H. 1.3 cm (1/2 in.); w. 1.8 cm (11/16 in.); th. 0.7 cm (1/4 in.)
Classification
Sealing, Nebmaatre, Amenhotep III,
Period
New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1911, 1912
Accession Number
12.180.584
Art Historical Context
This tiny mud seal, measuring just 1.3 cm high, offers a fascinating glimpse into the bustling bureaucracy of ancient Egypt's New Kingdom. Created around 1390–1352 B.C. during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III of Dynasty 18, it bears the impression of his throne name, likely *Nebmaatre*, pressed into soft mud to authenticate official documents. Such seals were essential for securing papyrus scrolls, jars, or doors, ensuring that only the authorized recipient could access contents—a clever, low-tech security measure in an era of vast imperial administration. Amenhotep III's rule marked a gold...