The material on display, including carved relief, stone coffins, and three-dimensional sculpture, testifies to the superb craftsmanship of Egyptian artists and sculptors throughout its long history.

Highlights of the Upper Egyptian Gallery include two statues of the goddess Sekhmet from one of the Theban temples of Amenhotep III. Portrayed as a lion-headed woman, Sekhmet was the daughter and defender of the sun god, Ra. Although known for her ferocity, Sekhmet was revered by the Egyptians as a protector due to her capacity to spare them from the sun god’s wrath.

A case along the left wall of the gallery highlights the portrayal of animals in Egyptian art and iconography. Numerous deities were depicted in animal form, and images of animals such as cats, falcons, serpents, and even scorpions were used as amulets and votive offerings.

Across the gallery is an assemblage of small-scale sculpture, including inlaid bronzes of the Egyptian’s primary god of the afterlife, Osiris, and the warrior goddess Neith. Bronzes of deities such as these were produced in large numbers, especially between the 7th century BC and the Roman period, when they were used as votive offerings in the gods’ temples.

Further along is a series of statues portraying non-royal officials. Such statues come from tombs, and provided a resting place for the ka, or life force, of the deceased person in the tomb.

In the center of the gallery is an imposing seated statue of Ramses II from the temple of the ram-headed god, Herishef.

Ramses II is also immortalized in the massive limestone head from a monumental statue located at the gallery’s rear left corner.