Palette – zoomorphic, gazelle (?) PAL-0034
By Droux, Xavier
Archaeological site unknown
Leipzig, Ägyptisches Museum Georg Steindorff, ÄM 2886.
Date : Naqada I–II (?)
Date uncertain, possibly modern.
Material : Greywacke
Description
The palette has a mostly ovoid shape with added stylised zoomorphic details. The animal (gazelle ?) is shown standing, with its head raised. A small hole is drilled through the back, likely for attaching a string or thong. It is possible that a (fish-shaped ?) palette was re-worked into this animal, perhaps in modern times.
Decoration
The horns are at first straight, going backward, with the tip strongly curved pointing forward, which may suggest that a gazelle was intended. The head hardly bears any other details but for the mouth indicated as a small notch at the tip of the muzzle, and two projections at the back, below the horn. If one of these horns can easily be explained as an ear, the presence of the second one is more puzzling. There is a strongly marked hump on the back. The legs are short: the back leg follows the curve of the backside, and it is not impossible that the belly line is a result of reworking of a palette. Small incisions at their tip may indicate the hoofs.
Comments
Besides the inventory number, two other inscriptions in black ink are visible on one side of the palette. The authenticity of the palette, at least in its current shape, is not certain.
Acknowledgements
We thank Dietrich Raue for facilitating the study of this artefact.
References
(ed.).
1997
Das Ägyptische Museum der Universität Leipzig. Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie, Sonderhefte der Aniken Welt. Mainz am Rhein
, 21, fig. 24.