This amphora ๐ ๐๐๐ with an ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต head is so beautiful ๐ค๐๐! An amphora ๐ ๐๐๐ is a special type of pottery ๐ ๐๐๐ that has a pointed bottom and two ๐ป handles that was used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! While Greek amphoras ๐ ๐๐๐๐ช are the most recognizable, the ancient Egyptians ๐๐๐๐๐ช had their own style too!
Ancient Egyptian amphoras ๐ ๐๐๐๐ช, such as this one found at Malqata, were usually made of red ๐ง๐๐๐ clay ๐ช๐๐ด๐ and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted ๐๐ with blue ๐๐น๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฅ, red ๐ง๐๐๐ , or black ๐๐ paint ๐จ๐๐ ฑ๐ญ๐ธ๐ฆ. This vase ๐ ๐๐๐ has some pretty ๐ค๐๐ lotus flowers ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ and other types of flowers ๐ผ๐ ฑ๐ฐ๐ฆ painted ๐๐ on it!!
The best part about this vase ๐ ๐๐๐ in my opinion is the ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต head that is on it! The ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต head was not actually found attached to the amphora ๐ ๐๐๐, but it was found nearby and reattached. You can actually see where it was reattached by the line going across its neck! Also, take a look at how the head of the ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต is in relation to the body of the animal – the head has a 3D effect which is just too cool! The body of the ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต is painted on the vase ๐ ๐๐๐, while the head/neck of the ibex ๐๐ซ๐ต kind of โjump offโ the vase ๐ ๐๐๐! So creative!
While historians will refer to this type of pottery as an โamphora,โ in Middle Egyptian, the standard word โmni ๐ ๐๐๐โ was used which basically just means pot or pottery!
This piece is dated to the reign of Amenhotep III ๐ณ๐ง๐ (18th Dynasty) and was found at his palace ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ in Malqata.
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.