Write notes on the following:

This question was quite unpopular among the candidates, and this have further confirmed candidates’ limited knowledge of art history. Akhenaton, Queen Nefertiti and Palette of Narmer are vital parts of the history of Ancient Egyptian art. In apparent demonstration of inadequate preparation, candidates described Palette of Narmer as a material for mixing colours. Majority could not even write anything on Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti. These led to a great loss of obtainable marks.  

The following are some of the points that candidates failed to write:

(a)       Akhenaton

•    he was an Egyptian Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty.
•    he was the son of Amenhotep III and Tiy
•    he was a radical king.
•    he revolutionised ancient Egyptian religion from polytheism to monotheism in which the Ancient Egyptians worshipped only the sungod (Aton), which he believed to be a universal, omnipresent spirit and the sole creator of the universe.
•    he thus changed his royal name from the royal designation of Amenhotep IV to Akhenaton which means the son the sun god .
•    He changed the age-long rigidity in the canons of artistic practice and encouraged freedom of expression and realistic representation.
•    He built a new capital called Telle-el Amarna.
•    His reign was referred to as the Amarna Period by historians.

(b)       Queen Nerfertiti

•    An ancient Egyptian queen who was the chief wife of Akhenaton, an ancient Egyptian king of the 18th Dynasty.
•    She partnered with her husband, Akhenaton in initiating radical artistic, religious and cultural changes in ancient Egypt.
•    Her bust was made in limestone and painted.
•    The bust has graceful, long and sensuous neck
•    Her bust became the most realistic figure in Ancient Egypt.
•    The bust has refined, classic profile and heavily crowned head.
•    This bust is one of the great works of art surviving from ancient Egypt and is now in the Staatliche Museum in Berlin, Germany.

(c)       Palette of Narmer.

•    It is a piece of slate carved in low relief.
•    It is one of the oldest Egyptian sculptures.
•    It is one of the most significant sculptures of the old kingdom.
•    It portrays the victory of Upper over Lower Egypt.
•    It depicted kings, armies, servants and various animals.
•    It was produced during the pre-dynastic period of ancient Egyptian art.
•    It was commissioned by King Menes.
•    It contains a representation of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.
•    It commemorates the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.