Atlantic Essay Examines Ancient Egyptian Monuments in Light of Contemporary Statuary Backlash
A piece in The Atlantic's November 2026 issue argues that today's backlash against 'Great Man' public statuary can be better understood by looking at ancient Egypt. The essay observes that grand public undertakings—colossal statues, expansive propaganda programs, image campaigns, and efforts to reshape the world of the living—have been shattered, defaced, and refaced. It draws a parallel between those ancient practices and current debates over monuments. The article appears in the magazine's November 2026 issue and was highlighted by ArtsJournal's Belknap blog. The source material does not name the author, specific monuments, or additional examples.
Key facts
- The Atlantic published an essay in its November 2026 issue on public monuments and ancient Egyptian art.
- The essay states that colossal statuary, propaganda programs, image campaigns, and attempts to remake the world of living people have been shattered, defaced, and refaced.
- The article connects ancient Egyptian monuments to a contemporary backlash against 'Great Man' statuary.
- The piece was featured on ArtsJournal's Belknap blog.
- The source does not identify the author of the essay.
- No specific monuments, cities, or individuals are named in the provided source material.
- The essay's central claim is that ancient Egypt offers a relevant historical perspective on current monument debates.
- The source URL is hosted on theatlantic.com.
Entities
Institutions
- The Atlantic
- ArtsJournal
- Belknap
Locations
- Egypt