Narmer, scorpion, and the representation of the early Egyptian court

Journal article

Numerous academic and popular articles have been published on the Narmer Palette, the Narmer Mace-head and the Scorpion Mace-head, arguably three of the most iconic early Egyptian monuments. It is generally recognized that these three objects are the climax of a centuries-old tradition of stone-working in the Nile valley and that most of the iconographic elements on these three objects can be traced back to earlier works of art such as the wall-painting in Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis, Naqadan rock art, and older decorated palettes and mace-heads. As such, the Narmer Palette, the Narmer Mace-head and the Scorpion Mace-head combine various older iconographic elements that are for the first time organised in a single, more or less coherent narrative. The meaning of this narrative, however, eludes us: some scholars have argued that the reliefs on the palette and the maceheads represent historical events, whereas others argue for a more symbolic interpretation. This article aims to further our understanding of these narratives by proposing new identifications of two figures shown prominently on both the Narmer mace-head and the Narmer palette; the so-called sandalbearer and the wearer of the leopard skin.

Authors: Kelder, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Gangemi Editore
• Journal: Origini. Preistoria e protostoria delle civiltà antiche - Prehistory and protohistory of ancient civilizations XXXV
• Volume: 35
• Pages: 143-156
• Publication date: 2014-01-01
• ISSN: 0474-6805
• ISBN: 9788849227871
• Keywords: 3000 BC; Egypt; Pharaonic kingship; pre-Dynastic; iconography