ticketsMember | Make a donation

Hair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals

Predynastic, Late Naqada III
ca. 3200–3100 B.C.
Not on view
Finely carved ivory combs and knife handles produced toward the end of Egypt's prehistory demonstrate the high standards Egyptian artists had achieved, even before the Old Kingdom. This comb may have been part of the funeral equipment of an elite person who lived about 5,200 years ago. Parts of the comb's teeth, now missing, can be seen along the bottom edge. The detailed decoration suggests that it was a ceremonial object, not just an instrument for arranging the hair. On both sides are figures of animals in horizontal rows, a spatial organization familiar from later Egyptian art. The animals include elephants and snakes; wading birds and a giraffe; hyenas; cattle; and perhaps boars. Similar arrangements of these creatures on other carved ivory implements suggest that the arrangement and choice of animals were not haphazard. Elephants treading on snakes suggest that this part of the scene was symbolic. The mythologies of many African peoples associate elephants and serpents with the creation of the universe. The uppermost row of this comb may symbolize a creative deity to whom the rest of the animals owe their existence.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Hair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals
  • Period: Predynastic, Late Naqada III
  • Date: ca. 3200–3100 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Ivory
  • Dimensions: h. 5.5 cm (2 3/16 in); w. 3.9 cm (1 9/16 in); th. 0.5 cm (3/16 in)
  • Credit Line: Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
  • Object Number: 30.8.224
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Solo disponible en: English
Cover Image for 3215. Ivory Comb and Ceremonial Palette

3215. Ivory Comb and Ceremonial Palette

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
A Tusk Figurine of a Man, Probably elephant ivory and organic material
A Tusk Figurine of a Man
ca. 3900–3500 B.C.
Turtle amulet, Ivory or bone
Turtle amulet
ca. 2150–1950 B.C.
Shell (?) amulet, Ivory or bone
Shell (?) amulet
ca. 2150–1950 B.C.
Design Amulet with Loop on Back, Device with Dancing God, Hathor Symbol and Lion, Bone
Design Amulet with Loop on Back, Device with Dancing God, Hathor Symbol and Lion
ca. 2325–2150 B.C.
Magic wand, Ivory
Magic wand
ca. 2124–1504 B.C.

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 9

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.