Image Details

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

King Narmer is regally enthroned inside a kiosk on this 13-inch-high limestone macehead, called the Narmer Macehead, also excavated at Hierakonpolis. (The king’s kiosk is barely visible at far left.) Above the kiosk hovers a vulture, which appears to be protecting the king. As on the Narmer Palette, a sandal-bearer (not visible in the photo) stands behind the king, who is identified by his serekh (also not visible), a rectangular frame enclosing the symbols of the catfish and chisel. Across from the king, and facing him, sits an unidentified man on a round-topped litter (left center of the photo). The imagery on the macehead appears to show territories conquered by the king, though these territories have not been identified.