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Pictured is a loving royal couple; probably Tutankhamun's young wife, Ankhesenamun, presenting a gift of sweet-smelling flowers to her husband. Although the relief is uninscribed, the cane that the pharaoh leans on is the giveaway that this is probably Tutankhamun.
The young king was interred in his Valley of the Kings tomb with no less than 130 staffs and walking sticks. A number of them were worn and showed clear signs of use.
Tall staffs were a sign of authority in ancient Egypt; however CT scans have revealed that Tutankhamun's left foot was crippled with a bone necrosis which would have made walking painful and difficult. It helps us understand why, of all the pharaohs, only Tutankhamun is shown seated while engaging in physical activities such as hunting birds with bow and arrows, or using a throw stick. It also explains his tomb's large collection of staffs and sticks.
It seems that Tutankhamun didn't just use a staff as a symbol of royal power. He needed a walking stick to get around.
This relief is in the collection of the Neues Museum, Berlin.
