Composite Papyrus Capital

This piece is called the “Composite Papyrus Capital” and it is on display at the MET! This used to be a part of a larger column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅  that measured over seven 𓐀 meters tall! In building/archaeology, the “capital” is the name of the decorated uppermost part of the column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅! 

This column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅 was originally at the Temple of Amun at the Kharga Oasis which was built by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanebo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓(378 – 360 B.C.E.). This was part of a large temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 building program that Nectanbo I 𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓃭𓆑 initiated as a way to resist the threat of Persian rule through the introduction of more traditional Egyptian religious works. 

The most striking aspect of this column capital is the intricate design and the preserved colors. While Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is a desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊, is has always had diverse plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰 life thanks to the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Ancient Egyptian art always showcased the biodiversity of the area and this column does that beautifully! Papyrus plants 𓇅𓆰 (upper) and flatsedge plants 𓇓 (lower) are the main decoration on the column. Both plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were very common along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and were quite important to the Egyptian economy. 

Some of the preserved colors they can be seen are green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, yellow and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. I always love when stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 works still have retained their original color because most of the time, the colors have faded over time. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.