Predynastic and Early Dynastic Art

Predynastic and Early Dynastic Art

Periodization and Chronology

• Amratian Period: Approximately 3900 BC, corresponding to Naqada Iabc and IIa phases according to Kaiser's Gerzean chronology.
• Gerzean Phase: Around 3600 BC, specifically Naqada IIb phase.
• Late Predynastic: Circa 3300 BC, aligning with Naqada IIc/d1,2 and Naqada IIIa1,2.
• Protodynastic Period: Spanning from 3150-3000 BC, marked by Naqada IIIb1 and Naqada IIIb2/c1 phases.
• Dynasty 0: Transition period considered part of the Protodynastic era.

Tombs, Objects, and Rulers

• Amratian:
  • Tombs: Abydos tomb U-239.
  • Objects: B-, P-, C-class pottery, Gebelein painted linen (more likely Ic-IIa).
• Gerzean:
  • Tombs: Hierakonpolis Loc. 6, tombs 3 and 6; Naqada tomb 1411, T4.
  • Objects: Decorated Pottery (D-class), Wavy handled pottery (W-class), Hierakonpolis (loc. 33) Painted tomb 100, Gebelein (?) knife Cairo JdE 34210, Brooklyn, Carnarvon knife handles (Naqada IId-IIIa).
• Late Predynastic:
  • Tombs: Abydos t. U-q, U-547; knife handle in t. U-503 and fragments from U-127, Hierakonpolis Loc. 6, tomb 11, Abydos tomb U-j.
  • Objects: Best quality ripple-flake flint knives.
  • Rulers: Scorpion (I)?
• Protodynastic:
  • Tombs: Seyala tomb 137.1; Qustul tomb L24, Hierakonpolis Loc. 6, tomb 10, Hierakonpolis Loc. 6, tomb 1.
  • Objects: Gebel Sheikh Suleiman graffito.
  • Rulers: Horizon A (Anonymous Serekhs, Double Falcon, Ny-Hor, Pe-Hor, Hat-Hor, Hedj-Hor, Iry-Hor), Horizon B (Tarkhan *Crocodile (?), Hk (?) Scorpion (II), Abydos: Iry Hor, Ka, Narmer).

Palettes

• Early Palettes:
  • Rhomboidal palettes, undecorated or with incised drawings.
  • Fish- and turtle-shaped palettes.
• Transitional Palettes:
  • Evolution from rhomboidal shapes to fusiform, featuring appendices and animal heads on the edge.
  • More animal-shaped (zoomorphic) palettes.
• Zoomorphic Palettes:
  • Examples include fishes, turtles, and mammals.
• Early Relief-Decorated Palettes:
  • Ostrich Palette
  • Gerzeh Palette
  • Min Palette
  • Louvre Palette
  • Oxford Palette
  • Hunters Palette
  • Metropolitan Museum Palette
  • Battlefield (Vultures) Palette
  • Bull Palette
  • Tehenu Palette
  • Plover Palette
  • Narmer Palette (end of Narmer's reign c.3000 BC)

Artifacts and Objects

• HK6 Masks:
  • Ivory mask from Louvre, 6.7cm height.
  • Dated to -3900/-3600 (Naqada I), E 27433.
• Ivory Object:
  • Ivory object from Louvre, 8.7cm height.
  • Dated to -4500/-3600(?) (Badari (?); Nagada I (?)), E 11887.
• Statuettes/Figurines:
  • Statue/figurine from Louvre Museum, dated -3900/-3600 (Nagada I), E 27457.
• Wooden Figure:
  • Wooden figure from Tell-Farkha, coated with gold.
• Min of Coptos:
  • Referenced as a 3D model collection available on Sketchfab by danderson4.
• Macgregor Man:
  • Basalt figure, 39cm, located in the Ashmolean Museum.
• Ivory Object from Abydos:
  • Ivory object, 8.8cm, Naqada III, BMEA37996, Copyright BM.

Combs

• Comb with Giraffe:
  • Period: Predynastic, Late Naqada I-Naqada II
  • Date: ca. 3900-3500 B.C.
  • Origin: Egypt
  • Medium: Ivory (elephant)
  • Dimensions: height $18.9$ x width $6.2$ x thickness $1.1$ cm (7 7/16 x 2 7/16 x 7/16 in.)
  • Accession Number: 23.2.5

Ivory Knife Handles

• Knife Handles:
  • Examples from Abu Zeidan, Gebel el-Tarif, and Gebel el-Arak.
  • Ivory knife handle from Tomb 111.
  • Gebel el Arak Knife Handle, Louvre E11517.

Hierakonpolis Tomb 100

• Location: Hierakonpolis. Featured significantly in the archaeological record.

Decorated Pottery

• Two Main Types:
  • C-Ware (white cross lined pottery).
  • D-Ware (decorated pottery).
• Examples of C-Ware:
  • Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, AN 1896-1908 E.2778.
  • Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, ÄM 23222.

Mace Heads

• Types:
  • Scorpion Macehead.
  • Narmer Ceremonial Macehead (Ashmolean Museum, from Hierakonpolis Main Deposit).

Decorated Palettes

• Boat-shaped palette:
  • Period: Predynastic, Late Naqada l-Naqada II
  • Date: ca. 3900-3500 B.C.
  • Origin: Egypt
  • Medium: Greywacke
  • Dimensions: Length $25.3$ x Height $11.4$ x Thickness $1.4$ cm (9 15/16 x 4 1/2 x 9/16 in.)
  • Accession Number: 07.228.156
• Palette Depicting a Pair of Mud Turtles:
  • Predynastic, early Naqada II
  • Date: ca. 3650–3500 B.C.
  • Medium: Greywacke
  • Dimensions: height $15.3$ x width $16$ x thickness $0.6$ cm (6 x 6 5/16 x 1/4 in.)
  • Accession Number: MMA 10.176.78
• Palette with Two Birds:
  • Period: Predynastic, Naqada II
  • Date: ca. 3650-3500 B.C.
  • Origin: Egypt
  • Medium: Greywacke
  • Dimensions: Height: $7.4$ cm (2 15/16 in.); Width: $9$ cm (3 9/16 in.)
  • Accession Number: 10.176.80
• Battlefield Palette:
  • Museum number EA20791.
  • Dimensions: Height: $19.60$ centimetres (This fragment), Height: $32.80$ centimetres (With Oxford fragment).
  • Weight: $1.40$ kilograms (Both pieces).
  • Width: $28.70$ centimetres, Depth: $1$ centimetres.

Ivory Fragments from Umm el-Qaab

• Various fragments of ivory discovered.
• References to publications and museum collections detailing these fragments (Petrie, Dreyer, Friedman).

Cosmetic Vessel

• Frog-shaped Vessel:
  • Object Type: cosmetic-vessel
  • Museum number: EA65240
  • Description: Breccia cosmetic-vessel, theriomorphic, representing a frog, eyes originally inlaid, pierced lug handles and everted rim.
  • Culture/period: Predynastic (Naqada II)
  • Production date: circa 3300BC

Royal Tombs of Dynasty 1 and 2, Abydos

• Description of tombs: Solid tumulus or mastaba above burial chambers.
• Location: Abydos.

Stela of Retainer Burials, Tomb of Djer, Abydos, Dynasty Late

• Steles Found around Tomb of Zer-Ta.

“Ceiling Stela” from Helwan, Saqqara (2nd Dynasty)

• Material: Limestone, raised relief.
• Placement: Probably placed above complex niche (door).
• Function: Niche and stone becomes focal point of offering (window above door?).
• Depiction: Deceased at table, names and titles, lists of offerings, textiles.
• Significance: Indicates not the highest elite.