Offering Table of Neferka

Offering Table of Neferka

Hetjer’s offering table has two depressions to hold liquid and a representation of Hetjer sitting before hieroglyphs that specify his desire for “a thousand of bread . . . of beer . . . of cattle and fowl.” Neferka’s offering table has one depression and representations of what may be a round loaf of bread and a copper pitcher in a basin seen from above. Such offerings were placed on the floors of tomb chapels to hold real food and liquids or, alternatively, to provide them magically through carved images and prayers.

MEDIUM Limestone

•Place Made: Saqqara, Egypt

DATES ca. 2500-2170 B.C.E.

PERIOD Old Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 3 x 10 5/8 x 7 3/4 in. (7.6 x 27 x 19.7 cm)

Brooklyn Museum

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