Narmer-Palette

The Narmer Palette is a world famous ceremonial palette. It received its name from the figure of the early Egyptian King Narmer, which some researchers equate with Menes.

Location and Description

The Narmer Palette comes from Hierakonpolis. It is made of polished slate and is about 64 inches tall. The palette is decorated on both sides and almost completely undamaged. It is now on display in the Egyptian Museum at Cairo. It bears there the name list CG 14716 (JE 32169 ).

The upper end of the range is decorated on both sides with frontal pictured faces of the cow goddess Bat. On both sides of King Narmer is shown below: Once with the red crown of Lower Egypt, one more time with the white crown of Upper Egypt. Narmer always wears a glorious robe of linen in combination with an apron from a panther skin and attached to the belt crocodile tail.

Front

Narmer is shown at the traditional slaying an enemy who is entitled by two superimposed standing Hierogplyhen as W3s. In addition papyrus can be seen sprouting from the back of the enemy symbol over it. Behind Narmer, a carrier sandals can be seen, following the king on the battlefield. Toby Wilkinson believes it is possible, that the provisions in the inscription characters ( gold rosette and laundry beating ) the carrier sandals called " Hem ", a title that describes in later times the office of Hem - Nesut. The gold rosette reads Wilkinson as a symbol of "king", so you can reap the full title of the sandals carrier would result as " Hem - nesu " ( " Supreme servants of the king ").

Back

Can be seen on the back of the palette, Narmer's victory celebration supplement. Accompanied by the Horus -conduct, represented as advancing procession, consisting of standard-bearers, he visited the dead enemies. This time he is accompanied by a carrier sandals. Before him is the oldest picture of a Tjet. Of interest is the representation of two " snake neck Panther" in the following window, including representing Narmer under the Societies festival as ruler of both parts of the country of Egypt. In the bottom window you can see a man and a damaged Bastion, both of which are overrun by a bull. The bull stands on behalf of the king.