Ankh, djed, was on neb basket
The ankh (life), djed (stability), and was (dominion) symbols depicted here on the sign for a heb bowl constitute a powerful combination of wishes that, before the first millennium, were offered by the king to a god or by a god to a king. Large complex inscribed examples of overlaid faience ankh, djed, and was elements from the time of the 25th and early 26th dynasty indicate the symbol is being associated with the Egyptian New Year, and one bears the name off Mentuemhat, the greatest official in the land.
Other elaborately carved faience examples may be uninscribed, and this one, though quite simple, was covered in gold. The date of these is uncertain, but they may belong to a continued function of the symbol as a New Year's offering, perhaps presented to a god in a temple. The festival association is strengthened by the fact that the bowl beneath the tall signs is not the standard neb basket but the heb bowl, which is the hieroglyph for festival.
Other elaborately carved faience examples may be uninscribed, and this one, though quite simple, was covered in gold. The date of these is uncertain, but they may belong to a continued function of the symbol as a New Year's offering, perhaps presented to a god in a temple. The festival association is strengthened by the fact that the bowl beneath the tall signs is not the standard neb basket but the heb bowl, which is the hieroglyph for festival.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ankh, djed, was on neb basket
- Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
- Date: 664–30 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Faience, gilding
- Dimensions: L. 3 × W. 2.4 × D. 0.5 cm (1 3/16 × 15/16 × 3/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
- Object Number: 26.7.1043
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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ca. 872–664 BCE
664–525 BCE
200–30 B.C.
4th century B.C.
360–343 BCE
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