"A colossal statue of Akhenaton from Karnak, toppled and buried after his death, retains the standard frontal pose of canonical pharonic portraits.  But the effeminate body, with its curving contours, and the long full-lipped face, heavy lidded eyes, and dreaming expression are a far cry indeed from the heroically proportioned figures of Akhenaton's predecessors.  Akhenaton's body is curiously misshapen, with weak arms, a narrow waist, protruding belly, wide hips, and fatty thighs.  Modern doctors have tried to explain his physique [but] ... their premise - that the statue is an accurate depiction of a physical deformity - is probably faulty."

- Gardner's Art Through The Ages, 11th edition, Vol. I, p. 68 - 69



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Bust of Nefertiti **

Though damaged, this bust still retains an elegant portrayal of queen Nefertiti.  When compared to the painted limestone bust of the queen, many individually identifiable characteristics become quite clear.  See which identifying features you can see in both this bust and the painted one.

  

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Painted Head of Nefertiti **

"The famous painted limestone bust of Akhenaton's queen, Nefertiti ... was found in the workshop of the queen's official sculptor, Thutmose. ... [The figure is similar to] those modern descendants of Nefertiti (her name means "The Beautiful One is Here) - models in fashion magazines, with their gaunt swaying frames; masklike faces; and enormous shadowed eyes."

- Gardner's Art Through The Ages, 11th edition, Vol. I, pp. 69 - 70

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Painted Floor **

Little remains of Akhenaton's capital of el-Amarna.  Aside from some of the foundations of the buildings and a few commemorative stelae and fragments in the area, there is little to show for his city dedicated to the Aton.  One of the few surviving fragments is this floor painting depicting birds in flight and the vegetation of the Nile Valley.