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Narmer Palette
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Slate Narmer Palette, from Hierakonpolis, just prior to 1st dynasty, c. 2925 bc. In the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Height 63.5 cm. (Top) Obverse, divided into three pictorial strips: the king, wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, shown on his way to witness the execution of fettered enemies; two bearded men leading two fabulous animals, perhaps symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt; and the king in the form of a wild ox attacking a fortified settlement. (Bottom) Reverse, showing a victory motif: King Narmer, wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, striking down an enemy held by the hair. Narmer Palette (reverse)
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Narmer Palette

ancient Egyptian sculpture
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Slate Narmer Palette, from Hierakonpolis, just prior to 1st dynasty, c. 2925 bc. In the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Height 63.5 cm. (Top) Obverse, divided into three pictorial strips: the king, wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, shown on his way to witness the execution of fettered enemies; two bearded men leading two fabulous animals, perhaps symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt; and the king in the form of a wild ox attacking a fortified settlement. (Bottom) Reverse, showing a victory motif: King Narmer, wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, striking down an enemy held by the hair.
Slate Narmer Palette, from Hierakonpolis, just prior to 1st dynasty, c. 2925 bc. In the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Height 63.5 cm. (Top) Obverse, divided into three pictorial strips: the king, wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, shown on his way to witness the execution of fettered enemies; two bearded men leading two fabulous animals, perhaps symbolizing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt; and the king in the form of a wild ox attacking a fortified settlement. (Bottom) Reverse, showing a victory motif: King Narmer, wearing the crown of Upper Egypt, striking down an enemy held by the hair.

The Narmer Palette is a significant ancient Egyptian artifact, likely dating to the Naqadah II period. It is a ceremonial palette depicting King Narmer, also known as Menes, who is credited with unifying Upper and Lower Egypt. The palette showcases typical conventions of Egyptian art, such as depicting the human form from multiple viewpoints (profile head, frontal eye, profile legs) and using relative size to indicate importance. It is considered one of the earliest examples of Egyptian relief sculpture and provides insight into the artistic and political developments of early dynastic Egypt.1234

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5 Britannica Sources
  1. Egyptian art and architecture - Relief sculpture and painting
  2. ancient Egypt - Predynastic Egypt
  3. Egyptian art and architecture - Ivory and bone
  4. Egyptian art and architecture - Pottery
  5. Egyptian art and architecture - Faience

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