Hieroglyphic ostracon inscribed with "Draftsman in the place of truth Hori"
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Ostraca (plural for ostracon) are potsherds used as surfaces on which to write or draw. The term is used, by extension, to refer to chips of limestone, which were employed for similar purposes. Despite their humble appearances, ostraca bear a wide range of images and texts, including administrative documents, literary texts, and depictions of royal and divine figures. The texts were mostly written with reed pen and ink of two colors, red and black, and inscribed in Hieratic, the cursive script of ancient Egypt throughout most of its periods. This ostracon is inscribed with a hieroglyphic text that writes the title 'Draftsperson in the Place of Truth Hori (or Hormu)." Men bearing this title often worked as artisans in Valley of the Kings, where this ostracon was found.
