Costumes In Saite Period Essay

Costumes in Saite Period: Archaism and Novelty (ca. 657 - 525 B.C)

Abstract

It is worth noting that Egypt have passed over a long time of interaction with different cultures such as; Libyans and Kushites, so it is easy to find out foreign influences through the artistic production. Although it is known that the art during Saite period reuse and revival the art of Old Kingdom to restore the glorious of past, but it distinguishes with innovation and novelty. The author examine the costumes, such as; crowns, headdresses, garments and cloaks of kings and Individuals during Twenty-six Dynasty which are characterized keeping the traditions of past especially Old and Middle Kingdom with innovative elements did not belong to the past time.

A., 1997:109-113; Brunner, H., 1970:151-161; Brunner, H., 1984:386-395; Kahl, J., 2010:1-11). It is interesting a new style of art as early as the reign of Psmatik I which developed gradually into the Saite style by the time of Psmatik II; it can be observed that the artists of Twenty-six Dynasty mingled the Theban art of the Middle and New Kingdom, which became a major stylistic and iconographic influence (Mysliwiec, K., 2001:173-174; Chimko, Corey J., 2003:15-57; der Manuelian, P., 1938:221-45). It is obvious from the statues and reliefs of Psmatik I and his successors, that the kings of Saite Period reproduced the art of past especially the Old and Middle Kingdom, and they influenced by the glorious art from Old to New Kingdoms; for example the head of Apris and Amasis bear archaizing features of Old Kingdom 's kings, Josephson points out that

3); there is another representation of king Psmatik I wearing the tradition royal kilt of Old Kingdom with innovative cap-crown(pl. 4) (Mysliwiec, K., 1988: Pl. LIII, LIV, LV). The Kushite kings appear wearing crown this kind of crown which is called cap-crown which consists of two parts, a closely fitted skullcap which came down low over the forehead with rounded tabs in front of the ears, and cloth band which could be plain or decorated with a row of cobras along its upper edge. (Cavvadias, P., 1894:35, n.168; Relief of king Shabitku from great temple of Amun at Karnak, in Osiris-Hekhdjet chapel, east side of façade, for more details, Schwaller de Lubicz, R.A., 1982:233; Török, L., 1990:155, fig 6; Relief of king Taharqa in a procession from Kawa temple, T temple, hypostyle hall, south wall, Macadam, L., 1955: LAAA 9, Pl. XXVII; Mysliwiec, K.,1988:34-5). Some scholars argued that this Kushite cap-crown was not Nubian 's invention, but this royal headdress has a long history in Egypt, certainly older than the blue crown. It is probably that the cap-crown of Kushite kings was distinguished than the Egyptian one and the artists during Twenty-fifth Dynasty developed the old shape of this crown to fit with Kushite kings (Fazzini, R., 1972:64-66, fig.36). The distinguished cap-crown continued during Twenty-sixth Dynasty as innovative new style through the slab of Psmatik I in