Ostraca are basically the ancient Egyptian version of a sketch pad or scrap paper! They were used by scribes πππͺ or artists to practice their craft! The ostraca were usually chips of limestone or broken pottery.
These ostraca at the MET are very awesome because they depict Senemut π’ππ
πΌ!! Senemut π’ππ
πΌ was Hatshepsutβs π³π¦π most trusted advisor (and in my opinion, they were definitely much closer than that π). Senemut π’ππ
πΌ was not only the tutor for Hatshepsutβs π³π¦π daughter π
π Neferure π³π€ π€ π€, the royal architect in charge of Deir el-Bahri, but he was also the Steward to Amun πππΊππ π at Karnak.
The sketch of Senemut π’ππ
πΌ on these ostraca are very similar to the sketches of Senemut π’ππ
πΌ that are seen in his tomb!
These were always some of my favorite pieces to see as a kid! Not only because it was Senemut π’ππ
πΌ, but also I loved seeing how the Egyptians πππππͺ used to do things!! Seeing the grids and seeing their βsketch padsβ allowed me a glimpse into just how some of this incredible art was created!