“Your hand is in my hand,
my body trembles with joy,
my heart is exalted
because we walk together.” (New Kingdom love poem)
Incurable romantics, stand up and be counted!
I absolutely love this piece in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. All that remains from a statue of Akhenaten and Nefertiti are these hands, clasped forever.
It was found in the ruins of Akhenaten’s custom-built city, Akhetaten (modern day Amarna) and is generally considered to show Nefertiti (left) gently holding the hand of her husband, Akhenaten (right).
Akhenaten was driven by two burning passions: his adoration of the Aten, the sun-disc, and his beautiful bride, Nefertiti.
Along with his dramatic religious reform, the king also introduced a new art form; more dynamic and sensual than the traditional rigid style.