UNA STATUA IN ABITO GIUBILARE AL MUSEO DI NAPOLI

A fragment of a green schist Egyptian royal statue wearing the «khat» and the «ḥb-sd » dress is kept at the Museo Nazionale of Naples. In the past the sculpture was dated to the XXII or XXVI dynasty because of its polished surface. However the styling of the face, in particular of the eyes and eyebrows, leads to believe that it represents Thutmosis III. It presents indeed some similarities with the big statue presently kept at the Cairo Museum and found in the Akhmenu: i.e. the neck showing a prominent Adam's apple, and the choice itself of the material as green schist. For such reasons the statue is likely to belong to the beginning of Tutmosis Ill's individual reign, in agreement with its probable provenance from the Akhmenu. The particular characteristics of the statue of Naples lead to think about the iconography of Thutmosis III and its connections with that of Hatshepsut. Finally, the roundish shape of the face underlined by the choice of the «khat» , and the apotheosis posture point perhaps to a particular aspect of kingship.