Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion

Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion
YearTwentieth Dynasty of Egypt
LocationMetropolitan Museum of Art
Accession No.26.7.1453 Edit this on Wikidata
IdentifiersThe Met object ID: 544076
[edit on Wikidata]

Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion is an ostracon drawing from the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt (ca. 1186–1070 B.C., part of the Ramesside period). It is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[1]

Early history and creation

This is a piece of limestone sketched with ink. It was a trial sketch, though the final has not been found in any tombs nor does the figure conform to new kingdom proportions, that was discarded in the Valley of the Kings.[1] It was discovered at the Tomb of Tutankhamun, near the entrance, during excavations in 1920.[1]

Description and interpretation

The work depicts a Ramesside pharaoh spearing a lion. The lion symbolizes the enemies of Egypt. The back of the work has a section of hieratic text, which reads: "The slaughter of every foreign land, the Pharaoh—may he live, prosper, and be healthy."[1] Hieratic text is a term for cursive writing, which had been around and evolving since as early as the 2nd dynasty[2].

Back of the ostracon, featuring hieratic text
Front of the ostracon, featuring figural image

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Artist's Sketch of Pharaoh Spearing a Lion". Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  2. ^ Regulski, Ilona (2009). ""The Beginning of Hieratic Writing in Egypt."". Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur. 38: 259–274 – via JSTOR.


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