C-Ware – deep bowl C-0024
By Droux, Xavier
, Tomb U-637.
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut excavation.Egypt, -, U-637/1.
Date : Naqada IA–IIB
General range of C-ware production
Material : Nile silt (Painted)
Preservation : Complete
Decoration preservation : Unknown
Decoration
On the inside of the vessel, two hippopotami facing each other are separated by a long zigzag design, probably representing water. One of the hippopotami is harpooned in its backside. The weapon’s rope is held by a human figure. The same animal seems to have another harpoon or rope protruding from its head, although this is uncertain as it joins the zigzag design. The second hippopotamus does not appear to be harpooned. The excavators have interpreted a motif painted below the harpoon as the representation of a small crocodile: this is perhaps a turtle? Three downturned triangles painted within a concentric line decorate the bottom of the vessel. Groups of wavy lines separated by vertical ones decorate the exterior of the vessel.
Dimensions (cm)
7.8
16.1
16.1
Base diam.: 5
Additional information
Open
Vi 206
Oi 100
flat base
Inside
References
2003
Umm el-Qaab: Nachuntersuchungen im frühzeitlichen Königsfriedhof, 13./14./15. Vorbericht. Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 59
, 78, 84-5, fig. 7.2004
A theriomorphic predynastic stone jar and hippopotamus symbolism, in: Hendrickx, Stan; Friedman, Renée; Ciałowicz, Krzysztof M.; Chłodnicki, Marek (eds), Egypt at its origins: studies in memory of Barbara Adams; proceedings of the International Conference "Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt", Kraków, 28th August–1st September 2002. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 138. Leuven
, table 3.2009
Les peintures sur vases de Nagada I–Nagada II: nouvelle approche sémiologique de l'iconographie prédynastique. Egyptian Prehistory Monographs 6. Leuven
, cat. 63.2010
Hippopotamus hunters and bureaucrats: elite burials at cemetery U, in: Raffaele, Francesco; Nuzzolo, Massimiliano; Incordino, Ilaria (eds), Recent discoveries and latest researches in Egyptology. Proceedings of the First Neapolitan Congress of Egyptology, Naples, June 18th–20th 2008. Wiesbaden
, fig. 3d.2015
Riverine and desert animals in predynastic Upper Egypt: material culture and faunal remains. Dphil thesis, University of Oxford. Oxford
, cat. 1.16.2016
Umm el-Qaab IV: die Keramik der älteren und mittleren Naqadakultur aus dem prädynastischen Friedhof U in Abydos (Umm el-Qaab). Teil 1: Textband/Auswertung. Archäologische Veröffentlichungen 98. Wiesbaden
, 181, fig. 77; 182, fig. 78; 184, fig. 79; 242, fig. 115, f.