The panel may represent one of Egypt’s first political elites, even before the construction of pyramids, and indicates that rulers used art glorify their power.
A recently analyzed rock art panel found on the desert margins of Egypt is providing new clues about the Egyptian State Emergencyaccording to Egyptian iconography expert Dorian Vanhulle.
A new one published in Antiquity reveals that the panel has a boat reason – one of the most recurring symbols in Egyptian art – and a sitting figure that can represent one of the first rulers.
“The boats are among the most frequent reasons In Egyptian iconography, ”explains Dr. Vanhulle.“ During the pre-Dinastic and Protodynamic periods (c. 4500–3085 BC), the boat is omnipresent and loaded with complex ideological and symbolic meanings. ”
Through comparison with other prefaraonic representations of boats, Vanhulle concluded that the panel dates back to the transition phase Among the initial protodynamic and dynastic periods, precisely when the Egyptian state began to form, long before the construction of the first pyramids.
The engraving displays striking similarities with the official iconography of the end of the protodynamic period to the Narmer reign, the first uniform of Egypt. A prominent detail is the elongated chin of the sitting figurepossibly an allusion to the artificial beards used by the kings of the first dynasty. This detail reinforces the hypothesis that the figure represents a member of the primitive ruling elite.
The high quality of the engraving indicates that it may have been commissioned by a political authority, suggesting that rock art was used as a means of affirmation of power in this period, says.
“The panel is an important addition to the existing body of prints that helps us to Understand the role of rock art In crucial events that led to the formation of the Egyptian state, ”says Vanhulle.“ The rock compositions have become a tool for authorities to communicate, mark the territory and affirm their authority. ”
Doria’s old
Illustration of Rupestre Art
The discovery also highlights the urgent need for conservation. “The landscape of the valley and its desert margins is currently the be changed irreversibly For activities such as mining and quarries, ”warns Vanhulle.“ The urgency of rescue missions, such as the one that led to the discovery of this panel, cannot be underestimated. ”
