Nemes

Nemes were pieces of striped headcloth worn by pharaohs in ancient Egypt.[1] It covered the whole crown and back of the head and nape of the neck (sometimes also extending a little way down the back) and had lappets, two large flaps which hung down behind the ears and in front of both shoulders.[2] It was sometimes combined with the double crown,[3] as it is on the statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel. The earliest depiction of the nemes, along with a uraeus, is the ivory label of Den from the 1st Dynasty. It is not a crown in itself, but still symbolizes the pharaoh's power.

For other uses, see Nemes (disambiguation).
Nemes
in hieroglyphs
  • Upper part of portrait statuette of pharaoh Amenemhat III, wearing a nemes, circa 1853-1805 BC
  • The back an upper part of portrait statuette of pharaoh Amenemhat III, wearing a nemes, circa 1853-1805 BC
  • The golden mask from the mummy of Tutankhamun wearing the nemes, circa 1323 BC
  • Profile of a statuette of Akhenaten wearing a nemes, circa 1351-1332 BC
  • Relief from the Sanctuary of Khonsu Temple depicting Rameses III wearing a nemes
  • Ushabti of Ramses IV with a nemes, circa 1143-1136 BC
  • Miniature metal nemes
  • Yul Brynner wearing a nemes, as Ramesses II in The Ten Commandments

Further reading

References
  1. Kathryn A. Bard, Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, Routledge 1999, p.412
  2. Watson Early Mills, Roger Aubrey Bullard, Mercer Dictionary of the Bible, Mercer University Press 1990, p.679
  3. Max Pol Fouchet, Rescued Treasures of Egypt, McGraw-Hill 1965, p.208


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