This spectacular fragment is one of the great monuments of the Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, a politically decentralized and puzzled period, although acknowledged as an extraordinary resourceful time for metalwork.

Thought to have been the founder of the twenty-third dynasty, King Pedubast’s reign aligns with a time when Egypt was under the influence of monarchs from Libyan origin. Descending from the officials invited as counselors almost four hundred years before, they gradually extended their influence until taking over Egyptian rulers at the beginning of the ninth century BCE. Using bronze and new metalwork techniques to highlight and illustrate their reigns, they adopted classical iconography models to fit in.

Here, the King bears the specific ornament of a panther’s head right on his gilded apron, which is usually associated with priesthoods in Ancient Egypt, accentuating both roles of the king, among gods and humanity.