Hieratic ostracon with one column of accounts

Late Period, Persian Period
525–404 BC
Not on view
A series of ostraka from the excavation of tomb of Nespekashuty have been examined in a forthcoming study: they seem to have been left by a single not particularly skilled scribe, who mixed cursive hieroglyphic and hieratic scripts. The texts include practice lists, random jottings, dated accounts and even the beginning of a New Kingdom literary text, "The Wisdom of Amenemope."

The texts postdate the tomb, probably to the Persian Period according to palaeography (handwriting style).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hieratic ostracon with one column of accounts
  • Period: Late Period, Persian Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 27
  • Date: 525–404 BC
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Tomb of Nespekashuty (TT 312, MMA 509), MMA excavations, 1922–23
  • Medium: Limestone, ink
  • Dimensions: H. 20.3 × W. 16.2 × D. 5.3 cm (8 × 6 3/8 × 2 1/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1926
  • Object Number: 26.3.166
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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