Papers by Yvonne Markowitz
Nubian Adornment
The American University in Cairo Press eBooks, Sep 6, 2012
For centuries, the West has been attracted to the exotic lands of the East and the cultures of th... more For centuries, the West has been attracted to the exotic lands of the East and the cultures of the ancient world. One of the most intriguing is ancient Egypt, an African civilization that flourished during the third through the first millennium BC. In its prime, it was respected, revered, and sometimes feared. Neighboring lands were in awe of its powerful leadership, majestic architectural wonders, imposing statuary, and sophisticated decorative arts with its curious iconography and even stranger hieroglyphics. For many, Egypt held the key to understanding the world's deepest mysteries. It was the Phoenicians (ca. 1500-300 BC), a seafaring people who lived along the Mediterranean coast in city-states now part of Lebanon, Syria, and northern Israel, who first capitalized on the fascination with all things Egyptian, especially those small objects that were easily shipped and traded. Early entrepreneurs, they served as middlemen stopping at ports in North Africa, Cyprus, Crete, the Cyclades, mainland Greece, and parts of Mesopotamia. Among the goods they bartered were raw materials, Phoenician-made glass, and an array of Egyptian adornments composed of beads and amulets fabricated from metal, stone, faience, and glass. Amuletic forms that especially resonated with Phoenician trading partners were representations of household gods, the healing (sacred) eye of Horus, and the scarab. The latter was a potent symbol of rebirth and rejuvenation based on the life-cycle of the dung beetle (scarabaeus sacer) whose activities the Egyptians associated with the life-giving sun. Three-dimensional representations of scarabs, typically pierced for stringing and incorporated into rings, necklaces, pectorals, and bracelets, had been a mainstay of Egyptian jewelry since the second millennium BC and by end of the first millennium, can be found throughout the ancient Near East. Not all of these were Egyptian in originin fact, both the Greeks and the Etruscans had adopted or "borrowed" the beetle form which they inscribed with base designs that were meaningful within the context of their own
The Ferlini Treasure in Archeological Perspective
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 1996
One of the first and most spectacular archae-ological discoveries in Nubia was made by Giu-seppe ... more One of the first and most spectacular archae-ological discoveries in Nubia was made by Giu-seppe Ferlini (c. 1800-1876), an Italian physician who was appointed Surgeon Major to the Egyp-tian army.1 In 1830 he was posted with a detach-ment to the Sudan, and ...
Jewelry by Artists: In the Studio, 1940-2000
Under Egypt’s Spell: Cartier during the Roaring Twenties
Jewels of Ancient Nubia
Located at the intersection of trade routes from central Africa, the ancient Near East, and the C... more Located at the intersection of trade routes from central Africa, the ancient Near East, and the Classical world, ancient Nubia ruled the entire Nile Valley at the height of its power in the eighth century bc. Its neighbour and frequent rival Egypt called it the gold lands because its territories held such an abundance of the precious metal, and because its inhabitants produced some of the most finely crafted jewelry of the ancient world. This book features over 100 adornments and personal accessories from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which houses the finest collection of Nubian jewelry outside Khartoum. The first comprehensive introduction to the sophisticated jewels of this great empire, it reveals how Nubian artisans employed techniques that would not be reinvented in Europe for another thousand years, and how the original owners valued such possessions not only for their inherent beauty, but also because they were imbued with magical meanings. Exquisite photography and an aut...
Artful adornments: jewelry from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Choice Reviews Online, 2012
Jewelry by artists in the studio, 1940-2000: selections from the Daphne Farago Collection
Choice Reviews Online, 2011
Imperishable beauty: art nouveau jewelry
Choice Reviews Online, 2009
The Ferlini Treasure in Archeological Perspective
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 1996
One of the first and most spectacular archae-ological discoveries in Nubia was made by Giu-seppe ... more One of the first and most spectacular archae-ological discoveries in Nubia was made by Giu-seppe Ferlini (c. 1800-1876), an Italian physician who was appointed Surgeon Major to the Egyp-tian army.1 In 1830 he was posted with a detach-ment to the Sudan, and ...
An Amethyst Gaming Piece Transformed
Cleveland Studies in the History of Art, 1996
A unique gem in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art began as an ancient Egyptian Amethy... more A unique gem in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art began as an ancient Egyptian Amethyst gaming piece but was later re-used in a Napatan Period Nubian context.
American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2008
Systematic facial mutilations during mummification have never been described before. The purpose ... more Systematic facial mutilations during mummification have never been described before. The purpose of this work was to study a wrapped mummified head using highresolution CT scanning. An isolated mummified head from the Egyptian Middle Kingdom was scanned at 200 m isotropic resolution. A prototype flat panel CT scanner was used to generate 800 nonoverlapping CT sections at 120 kV and 50 mA. This dataset was analyzed to discern various surgical alterations during mummification. RESULTS: There were large defects in the cribriform plate and the posterior fossa. Systematic mutilations of the facial bones and mandible, involving the anterior and inferior walls of the maxillary sinuses, the floor of both orbits, and the zygomatic arches with contiguous segments of the zygomas, were demonstrated. The coronoid processes of both mandibles had been sharply excised and the articular tubercles of the temporomandibular joints fractured. CONCLUSION: Defects in the ethmoid and the posterior skull base are consistent with previous descriptions of excerebration. Mutilations of the facial skeleton and jaw, which are unrelated to the process of excerebration, have never been described previously. It is noteworthy that the osteotomies selectively include the insertions of the muscles of mastication. These mutilations apparently were designed for mobilization of lower jaw. The "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony, described in the ancient texts, would be difficult to perform in the presence of rigor mortis; it is probable that the observed osteotomies were performed to facilitate this ceremony. Our research suggests that by the Middle Kingdom, Egyptian embalmers had developed highly sophisticated surgical techniques that have not been appreciated previously.
Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen
Hundreds of beautiful artworks from the time of Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Tutankhamen illustrate t... more Hundreds of beautiful artworks from the time of Akhenaten, Nefertiti and Tutankhamen illustrate the splendour of Egypt in this examination of Egyptian art and culture at the time of the city of Amarna. During the 14th century BC, Armana was founded by Akhenaten to promote his new religion and for 12 years was the capital of the world's greatest empire. However, after Akhenaten's death, Tutankhamen abandoned the city, demolishing all traces of his predecessor. In this catalogue of the millennium exhibition of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the world of Ancient Egypt comes to life through more than 250 illustrations. Essays by leading Egyptologists describe the Amarna Period, a time of unprecedented changes in art and architecture, technology, in women's roles in religion and government - and the dramatic change with polytheism in favour of monotheism. The images include sculpture, architectural elements, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, tools and furniture from collection...
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Papers by Yvonne Markowitz