Importance Of The Narmer Palette

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Final Paper According to David Wengrove, the Narmer Palette, is a shield-shaped slab of gray siltstone about 25 inches long. It is in the shape of a cosmetic palette, an object made by Egyptians for at least 10 centuries before the date of the Narmer palette. The Narmer Palette is thought to illustrate the historic event of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by the notorious King Menes, also called Narmer. What makes the Narmer Palette of great importance is it is larger than most Palettes, and it is decoratively carved on both sides with numerous images and words. The Narmer Palette is known for its size, elaborate carvings, and hieroglyphic writings on both sides. This is a prime example of Ancient Egyptian craftsmanship. This palette shows great craftsmanship along with true dedication into the carvings and hieroglyphic writings. The high-quality of workmanship put into the Narmer Palette clearly indicates the significance of this object. According to Francesca Jourdan, the carvings on the front side of the palette are; a king with a traditional beard wearing the “White Crown” to …show more content…

Another important aspect of the Narmer Palette are the carvings and what they symbolize. According to Dr. Amy Calvert, some have interpreted the battle scenes as a historical record of the initial unification of Egypt under one ruler, supported by the general timing, as this is the period of the unification, and the fact that Narmer sports the crown connected to Upper Egypt on one face of the palette and the crown of Lower Egypt on the other, this is the first preserved example where both crowns are used by the same ruler. Other theories suggest that, rather than an actual historical representation, these scenes were purely ceremonial and related to the concept of unification in general

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