Narmer Palette

The Narmer Palette
The Narmer Palette has a confusing name as we associate the word 'palette' with an artist's board. Just to clarify the term, the word Narmer is the name of the king who is depicted on this ancient artefact, which is also called called Narmer's Victory Palette. The term 'palette' was used by early Egyptologists to describe the cosmetic slate palettes of predynastic Egypt that were originally used to grind and apply ingredients for facial or body make-up.  These early small cosmetic palettes were often inscribed with symbols and iconography and were some of the first forms of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Much larger pieces of slate were then used to carve structured sets of texts that were created as tributes to commemorate important events or for ceremonial purposes. The Narmer Palette measures 64 centimetres (over 2 feet) in height and 42 centimetres (about 17 inches) in width. Click the following link for additional facts and information about King Narmer.

                                    Front of Narmer Palette                 Reverse of Narmer Palette                                   

The Narmer Palette Definition
The Narmer Palette definition: Slate carvings commemorating the victory of King Narmer of the southern kingdom of Egypt over the northern kingdom and his unification of the two lands. Both sides are decorated and the hieroglyphic inscriptions are amongst the oldest ever found.

Depiction
The Narmer Palette depicts the unification of the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Narmer who is represented wearing both Egyptian crowns. This is first attestation of this historical event.  The king is depicted as the conqueror of lands and the master of his vanquished enemies. The traditional enemies of Egypt were collectively referred to as the 'Nine Bows' reflecting the weapons used by their enemies.
 

Ancient Egypt - Narmer Palette Fact Sheet Fact 1 on Narmer Palette: Narmer was the King of the southern lands of Upper Egypt whose capital was Hierakonpolis.   Fact 2 on Narmer Palette: His opponents were based at Buto and ruled over the northern kingdom of the Nile Delta, called Lower Egypt. See the following Maps of Upper and Lower Egypt   Fact 3 on Narmer Palette: The slate artefact measures 64 centimetres (over 2 feet) in height and 42 centimetres (about 17 inches) in width.   Fact 4 on Narmer Palette: It was discovered by British archaeologists James E. Quibell and Frederick W. Green 1897–1898.   Fact 5 on Narmer Palette: It was found in the Temple of Horus at Hierakonpolis, which was originally known as Nekhen.   Fact 6 on Narmer Palette: The 'Narmer Palette' is important because it contains some of the earliest hieroglyphic inscriptions ever found.   Fact 7 on Narmer Palette: It dates from the reign of the king c3100BC.   Fact 8 on Narmer Palette: Meaning: The meaning of the artefact refers to the unification of Egypt. This is clearly depicted in the front of the artefact with the king wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt, and on the reverse he wears the the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Deshret Crown of Lower Egypt Hedjet Crown of Upper Egypt Fact 9 on Narmer Palette: The artefact is now one of the many exhibits at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.   Fact 10 on Narmer Palette: It is one of the most important sources of information about Early Dynastic Egypt and the unification of the 'two lands'.   Ancient Egypt - Narmer Palette Fact Sheet

The Narmer Palette
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