Fragement from a jar with a label identifying contents as honey

New Kingdom

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 119

These pottery fragments are from the shoulder of a large storage jar. The two well preserved lines of text are in hieratic script, the cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing which was always written from right to left. At the beginning of the second line is a sign representing a bee. This sign was used to write the word "honey" and identifies the contents of the jar.

Besides its use as a sweetener, honey was valued for its therapeutic effect when applied to wounds. Prescriptions for the use of honey are found in ancient medical texts written on papyrus.

Fragement from a jar with a label identifying contents as honey, Pottery, ink

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Fragement from a jar with a label identifying contents as honey, Pottery, ink
Fragement from a jar with a label identifying contents as honey, Pottery, ink

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.