Narmer Palette
Front of Object
2015-00-00
Name/Title
Narmer PaletteEntry/Object ID
03EG1391Description
Black double sided ornamental palette with two-dimensional imagery. The obverse shows King Narmer wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt in smaller stature following a series of standard bearers. Behind him is an attendant carrying his sandals and a small water jar. To the right of the standard bearers are the enemies Narmer has slain with their severed heads placed between their feet. The central scene shows two serpopards with intertwined necks that form a circle. Below is the Apis Bull, a symbol of the king's strength. The reverse shows the victorious King Narmer, wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt, standing very prominently in the center, brandishing a mace in his right hand, about to smite an enemy whom he clutches by the hair with his left hand. Below are images of his fallen enemies. To the right is the falcon god Horus, the protector of the king, also participating in the subduing of Narmer's foes, perched upon papyrus plants. Again we see the sandal-bearer to the left of the king.Type of Sculpture
ReliefArtwork Details
Medium
PlasterContext
This palette was discovered at Hierakonpolis in Upper Egypt by J.P. Quibell. The Narmer Palette is one of the earliest historical records from ancient Egypt. It records King Narmer's victory over Lower Egypt, at which point he became the king of all Egypt. The king's name appears on both sides in the serekh (one of the earliest ways of presenting a king's name) at the top and center on the palette, flanked by images of the goddess Hathor who was likely credited with providing the king's victory. The central scene with the serpopardsis is very likely the part of the palette where cosmetics were crushed. The papyrus depicted on the reverse was a symbol of Lower Egypt and therefore represented the king's conquest of the region.Made/Created
Date made
3100 BCE - 3000 BCETime Period
Bronze AgeEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Egyptian