Eternal Egypt: Ostracon With Trial Sketches

This ostracon shows part of the process of loading a boat. Two men are seen working with chisels. Another figure is drawn with a broad brush.

The irregular piece of stone is an educational model used to train individuals in the art of portraying a horse decorated with a collection of crosses formed by braiding.

The beginning of Sinuhe's adventure tale was written on this flake of stone in Hieratic script. Sennedjem probably kept it in his tomb to read in the netherworld.

In this sketch, two bulls crash horns in combat. The drawing does not convey the heat of battle between such powerful animals and the proportions of the bulls are incorrect. It was probably the work of a beginner.

This ostracon shows a harpist, who is a bald man, with a large and richly decorated harp, which is possibly standing.

This ostracon depicts a bull and a baboon, executed with brush strokes in black and red pigments on a rough limestone flake.

This ostracon has an amusing drawing in red and black of a monkey standing on its hind legs and eating from a mound of grain.

Depicted on this ostracon is a female musician, wearing a broad collar and holding a musical instrument that is similar to a modern lute.

This ostracon shows a cheerful episode from an Egyptian folktale showing a cat acting as a guide and protector to a flock of six ducks or geese.

A large and richly decorated sistrum. The traditional and principal decoration is the double head of the goddess Hathor surmounted by an arch. On each side of the head of Hathor is a uraeus; one wears the crown of Upper Egypt and the...