The Colossal Statue Of King Tuthankhamun And The Lamassu

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The Colossal Statue of King Tuthankhamun and the Lamassu are amazing works of art. Of the eight works assigned, these two particularly caught my eye. The two pieces, though very different, have many similarities. In this paper, I will discuss these similarities and differences of style in terms of their overall shape, proportions, and individual parts.
The Lamassu of the Assyrian kingdom was quite large in size as it guarded the the entrances to the throne room of the Assyrian king. The size of the winged bull with a human head was surely an important part in guarding the gates and instilling fear in all that passed it. It is a relief sculpture of mostly high relief elements as the wings are the only parts that appear to be in low relief. The …show more content…

Like the Lamassu, this statue is very large in size. Its proportions, however, are much more realistic and provide a different viewing experience as it is three-dimensional all the way around. It does, however, reveal sunken relief inscriptions around the base of the statue of what appear to be hieroglyphics. Again like the Lamassu, Tuthankhamun wears a headdress as well as a beard. He also wears a collar, kilt, and holds a dagger with representational meaning within the waistband of his kilt. The dagger he wears has the head of a falcon, symbolic for the god Horus, protector of kings. Tuthankhamun’s headdress and double crown point to his royal status and the beard shows his wisdom and ability to lead and rule. The statue’s massive size magnifies King Tuthankhamun’s power and status as a king in ancient Egypt even after death as he is thought to have been one of the most popular kings of ancient 
Egypt. The statue is seventeen feet tall and the largest statue of ancient Egypt. King Tutankhamun, unlike the Lamassu, was a king and did not stand alone in his sculpture. HIs power is represented in his rulership and size instead of in the symbolism of an object or animal. There are small feet that can be seen behind him on the base of his sculpture which are said to be that of his wife. The statue does not seem to be threatening, although powerful, it merely points to a great ruler of high status to be remembered always and forever worshipped rather than evoke fear of the Egyptian

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