Gebel el-Arak Knife
The Gebel el-Arak Knife is a 25.50 cm long knife dating from circa 3300 to 3200 BCE, the late pre-dynastic period in Egypt, which when it was purchased in Cairo[1] was said to have been found at the site of Gebel el-Arak, south of Abydos.
The blade is made of ripple-flaked flintstone and the handle of the ivory of a hippopotamus canine tooth. The handle is richly carved in low relief with a scene of a battle on the side that would have faced a right-handed user and with mythological themes on the other surface.
The opposite side of the handle shows Mesopotamian influence[2] featuring the god El, wearing Mesopotamian clothing, flanked by two upright lions symbolizing the Morning and Evening Stars (now both identified with the planet Venus).[3] Grimal refrains from speculating on the identity of the ambiguous figure, referring to it as a "warrior".[4] This side of the handle also contains a "knob", a perforated suspension lug that would have supported the knife handle, keeping it level while resting on a level surface and also could have been used to thread a cord to hang it from the body as an ornament.
The knife is on display at the Musée du Louvre, (Accession number E 11517). Another knife of similar materials but worn and battered, is conserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[5]
-
Front side of the handle
-
Back side of the handle
[edit] References
- Nicolas-Christophe Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, Blackwell Publishing 1992, ISBN 0631193960, pp.29ff.
- ^ Samuel Mark, From Egypt to Mesopotamia: a Study of Predynastic Trade Routes (Texas A & M Press) 1997.
- ^ Barbara Watterson, The Egyptians, Blackwell Publishing 1997, ISBN 0631211950, p.41
- ^ Robert du Mesnil du Buisson: "Le décor asiatique du couteau de Gebel el-Arak", in BIFAO 68 (1969), pp.63-83
- ^ Grimal, op.cit., p.36
- ^ see Bruce Williams, Thomas J. Logan, and William J. Murnane, "The Metropolitan Museum Knife Handle and Aspects of Pharaonic Imagery before Narmer" Journal of Near Eastern Studies 46.4 (October 1987:245-285).
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gebel el Arak Knife |
- The Gebel el Arak knife, Images on the backside of the handle
- The Gebel el Arak knife, Depiction of a predynastic battle scene
- (French) Poignard "du Gebel el-Arak", official site of the Louvre.
 |
This article relating to archaeology in the Near East is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This African archaeology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This article about Egyptology or subjects relating to Ancient Egypt is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
