Hieratic ostracon

Unknown

ca 1186–1070 B.C. · Limestone, ink · Egyptian Art

Ostraca (plural for ostracon) are potsherds used as surfaces on which to write or draw. The term is used, by extension, to refer to chips of limestone, which were employed for similar purposes. Despite their humble appearances, ostraca bear a wide range of images and texts, including administrative documents, literary texts, and depictions of royal and divine figures. The texts were mostly written with reed pen and ink of two colors, red and black, and inscribed in Hieratic, the cursive script of ancient Egypt throughout most of its periods. This ostracon bears an inscription mentioning a visit by high authorities to the royal necropolis.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca 1186–1070 B.C.

Medium

Limestone, ink

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Theodore M. Davis, 1909