33. Khener Dancer Figurine 

This steatopygous nude figurine once had braid strands that emitted a rustling sound. The figurine probably represents a Hathoric dancer as well, and doubles as a percussion instrument used to make music for the goddess. Similar figures sometimes cradle or piggy-back babies, suggesting a parallel connection with motherhood. Many examples of this type of figurine were found in Hathor’s shrines at a galena mining site on the Red Sea (Jebel Zeit), confirming this Hathoric link. Their use-span extended into the New Kingdom and their distribution was broad (the perforated head is sometimes seen on semi-nude female figurines representing ‘foreigners’, with a different function in execration rituals). The exact context of this particular figurine is unknown. The Deir el-Ballas settlement where it was found was used as a campaign and palace base by Seqenenre Tao and his son Ahmose in their battles against the Hyksos. These local kings are known to have employed soldiers from Kerma in their armies, which eventually defeated the Hyksos and re-unified Egypt. Scan the blue QR code nearby to listen to the sound this rattle-figurine would have made.