Yu-gi-oh! egyptian headdresses
In Yu-Gi-Oh! Millenium World, we come across various ancient egyptian characters wearing different headdresses. For these, Kazuki Takahashi let his imagination loose although we can see egyptian influence in some designs.
First, egyptian headdresses are used by gods, kings, and royal women, not by the general population who had either wigs (mostly richer, wealthier people) or their natural hair.
Thus, among Atem’s courtiers, only Shadah and Karim are close to Ancient Egyptian traditions.
Shadah has his hair shaven which is typical of Egyptian priest of the New Kingdom and later periods.
Karim wears a mid-length wig which is fine. But he also wears a gold headban around his head which looks more or less like the seshed crown worn by kings and royal women.
Karim, a seshed crown found at Dra Abu el-Naga (~1650 bc), elite Egyptians with no headban for the male (tomb of Ramose, 18th dynasty)
Mahad wears a veil to cover his long hair. Egyptian males didn’t grow their hair long and didn’t cover them either. Mahad also wears a little sundisk between two cow horns which is the typical headwear of the goddess Hathor, also worn by queens...
Mahad is actually Atem’s queen. We’ve finally figured it out XD.
Mahad, statue of Hathor with the sun between her horns, Turin Museum.
Seto wears a blue headdress which could be inspired by the pharaohs’ khepresh crown (even though the shape is all wrong). He also wears a snake-uraeus on his forehead which is the king’s most sacred symbol. Only the king and a few royal women are aloud to wear it.
Seto wants power, we all know that XD.
Khepresh crown and Priest Seto
Isis covers her hair under a veil (that she shouldn't have) and also wears the head of a falcon on her forehead with its ‘wings’ surrounding her face. This is probably inspired by another of the queen's headwear: a vulture with its wings spread around the face.
The vulture headdress is usually associated with motherhood so Isis could be, in fact, Atem’s mum XD. Or the mother to his children...
Priestess Isis and queen Ahmes-Nefertari, Louvre Museum
Atem’s ‘crown’ is designed after the eye of Udjat wich is an egyptian symbol for protection. It is especially worn among the commoners in jewels (necklaces, bracelets...). It isn’t specific to royalty and never used on crowns.
All in all, Atem’s court has got their headwear all mingled up.
