Reserve head

As a replacement head a special form of ancient Egyptian sculpture is called, the only was used during the Old Kingdom as part of the grave goods. The majority of the known replacement heads emerged, beginning with the reign of Cheops in the middle 4th dynasty.

Designations

In the scientific literature, this collection is performed under numerous names, one of which in German-speaking " spare head " is the most common. In addition to its equivalent "Reserve head " can be found but also occasionally names such as " Portrait head ", " head portrait ", " soul wise head ", " head bust ", " special head " or more generally "head". In the French-speaking area next to " tête de remplacement " and " tête de réserve " the terms " tête magique " and " tête votive " widespread, particularly pointing out the magical aspect of the heads. In the English literature, the term "reserve head", but the term "magical head" dominated finds use.

Temporal and spatial arrangement

The occurrence of replacement heads is both spatially and temporally severely limited. Its distribution area is limited to the Memphite region and especially on the core cemeteries of the necropolis of Giza (G 2100, G 2400, G 4000, G 7000 and Cemetery én echelon ). Single copies also come from the necropolis of Abusir, Dahshur and Saqqara possibly. Your first appearance seems to fall into the reign of Cheops. A head of Dahshur is often dated to the time of his predecessor Sneferu, but, because of its production ( unexecuted ears ) may also be more recent. The majority of the heads was made during the reigns of Khufu and his immediate successors Radjedef and Khafre. Recent clearly to be addressed as a substitute heads pieces come from the 5th Dynasty. A previously unpublished finding from Lisht, which dated to the 12th Dynasty, possibly might be the most recent discovered so far spare head.

Characteristics

The replacement heads usually form from a life-size human head with neck without shoulder approach. The neck terminates in a flat -bottom. The preferred material was limestone, but also Nilschlamm found in two copies use. Two recent examples are composed of a gypsum core with shell. Some pieces have the remains of an original painting. Typical of the replacement heads are the following four characteristics that may occur alone or in combination with either occur and no other statue type of the Old Kingdom:

  • A circumferential line of the neck, just above the base.
  • One extending from the apex to the neck groove.
  • An emphasis of the hairline, retrofitted by incising
  • Non-existent or severed ears. The younger specimens either refrain entirely on the placement of ears or have versions for separate ears.

List of known replacement heads

The exact number of known replacement heads is difficult to determine. Currently, 33 properties can be clearly identified as replacement heads. In addition, but also cuts in which it is not clear whether they are actually classified as a spare or as a head statue head. In addition, individual ears, which can include either already known or unknown replacement heads. The replacement heads relate to the following museums:

Giza Necropolis Chapel Hill (North Carolina) Hildesheim Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi Christiane Ziegler
314574
de