Egypt

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities

Egypt The Palette of Narmer A temple offering cosmetic palette: Used to crush cosmetic powder between necks of serpopards Powder used on faces of god/goddess statues in temple

Egypt dates from about 3200 BC, contains some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions ever found, "the first historical document in the world"

Egypt large (ca. 64 cm./25 in.), shield-shaped, ceremonial palette, carved from a single piece of flat, soft green siltstone

Egypt

Upper rims on both side are caved with the same design Two human faces with curved bull-like horns flank Narmer’s serekh

Egypt Serekh is a rectangular frame representing a palace courtyard around the symbols of a catfish and a chisel Catfish and chisel represent Narmer’s name

Egypt

King, wearing the chair-shaped red crown of Lower Egypt, marches in procession toward ten dead enemy soldiers

Egypt King is followed by an attendant who carries his sandals Catfish and chisel of Narmer’s name hovers in front of the king’s face

Egypt

Necks of two serpopards encircle the grinding area of the palette Each serpopard is controlled by an attendant holding a leash attached to the beast’s neck

Egypt

Bull tramples an enemy soldier and knocks down towered walls Bull symbolizes the king, who is in the act of conqueroring an enemy town

Egypt

King Narmer, wearing the conical white crown of Upper Egypt holds an enemy by the hair, prepares to kill him with a club Attendant behind king carries his sandals

Egypt

A bed of papyrus reeds is personified by a human head A falcon holds a rope attached to the head

Egypt

Two dead enemy soldiers in poses of defeat

Egypt