The pharaoh is deep turquoise — the color of Egyptian faience — as is the wall behind him, which is incised with hieroglyphs.

But what about the cute little faience hippo in the same vitrine?

The site contains a large number of ovens and kilns for making glass and faience, along with the debris of thousands of statues, said Betsy Bryan, a specialist of Amenhotep III’s reign.

There was the Tashkent metro, 22 miles long, with majestic stations — several hung with three-tiered chandeliers — including one tiled in futuristic blue faience, dedicated exclusively to space exploration.

A faience, or ceramic box, with the name of Pharaoh Tuthmose II written in hieroglyphics, was also discovered nearby.