Hieratic Ostracon with the beginning of "The Wisdom of Amenemope"

Late Period, Persian Period

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 127

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).

Hieratic Ostracon with the beginning of "The Wisdom of Amenemope", Limestone, ink

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Hieratic Ostracon with the beginning of
Hieratic Ostracon with the beginning of

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