9-Ring with Cartouche of Akhenaten

Egyptians began to cast rings in solid metal at the beginning of the New Kingdom. The stirrup ring, with its flat bezel, was decorated with royal figures, deities, and cartouches.

This ring bears the prenomen, Neferkheperure, and the epithet, Waenre. Together, they spell Akhenaten’s throne name “Beautiful are the Forms of Re, the Unique One of Re.”¹ Although Akhenaten eventually changed the five-fold titulary, he retained this prenomen throughout his reign. Officials used rings of this type to seal official documents on behalf of the king. The wear on the ring indicates frequent use.

MH

1. Petrie 1894, 28, pl XIV, nos. 62–64. ↩︎