The Diadem of Princess Khenmet is a gold crown that was discovered in the tomb of Princess Khenmet and her sister, Princess Ita, in Dahshur.
The crown is made up of a network of interlaced gold wires that hold nearly 200 small flowers, each with a carnelian eye and five turquoise-inlaid petals.
The wires are attached to three pins on each side of five “crosses,” which are actually clusters of lotus blossoms, and terminate at a pair of rings on the back of a sixth “cross.” The lightness of the goldwork allows the flowers to appear as though they are scattered through the hair of the wearer.
According to art historian Arielle Kozloff, the crown conjures up the image of a young girl dancing barefoot in the palace with the wreath jingling and rustling on her head.
However, it is not clear whether Princess Khenmet ever wore the crown or whether it was meant specifically for funerary purposes. Egyptologist Wolfram Grajetzki has suggested that elements of the treasure hoards of the 12th dynasty princesses correspond to elements of the funeral rites of Osiris, as described in the ancient Pyramid Texts.
In addition to the crown, Princess Khenmet was buried with a gilded dagger and a mace, and other personal adornments were found in a small chamber next to the sarcophagus, including two diadems and parts of a necklace made of gold.
