Battlefield Palette

A fragment of the so-called Battlefield Palette (obverse). Shown are standards of deities, represented by a hawk and an ibis and provided with human arms, who are escorting bound captives of war. The bordered circular depression is where eye-paint was ground. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: late Predynastic c.3050BC. Place of Origin: probably from Abydos. Material Size: Siltstone H: 32.8cm. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Ashmolean Museum, Oxford . Location: 35.

 Detail of a fragment of the 'Battlefield Palette' ( obverse ). Detail of the lower section showing the king as a lion devouring a slain foe. The bodies of enemies are strewn over the battlefield. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: late Predynastic c.3050 BC. Place of Origin: probably from Abydos. Material Size: Siltstone 
H:32.8cm. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ British Museum, London . Location: 35.

A fragment of the so-called Battlefield Palette.  Such objects were used for grinding eye-paint.  It is decorated in relief with a guinea-fowl and a long-necked animal, perhaps a gazelle rather than a giraffe.  The animal is one of two which originally flanked a date palm in a symmetrical fashion. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: late Predynastic. Place of Origin: probably from Abydos. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Ashmoleon Museum, Oxford . Location: 35.

 Two fragments of the so-called Battlefield Palette. Such objects were used for grinding eye-paint. Decorated in relief with a guinea-fowl and a pair of long-necked animals, perhaps a gazelles rather than a giraffes. The animals flank a date palm. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: late Predynastic. Place of Origin: probably from Abydos. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Top fragment Ashmoleon Museum,Oxford Lower fragment British Museum, London. Location: 35.