Predynastic Egyptian Frog Vessels in (Inter)regional Context
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Predynastisk EgyptenResumé
Tiny vessels in the shape of frogs are one of the many theriomorphic stone objects produced by the artisans of Late Predynastic Egypt. This paper identifies 15 such vessels ranging widely across Egypt, from Naqada and Naga ed-Dêr in the south to a recent find at Tell el-Farkha in the Delta. Detailed investigation of their forms reveal two distinct types regardless of point of origin: most belong to the “sitting” type which rests upon its legs, but two examples follow another set of conventions best described as “prone” with the legs splayed out and the animal resting on its stomach. Of the latter category, the frog from tomb N7304 at Naga ed-Dêr is particularly significant, for its lapis inlays and archaeological context point towards connections with the greater Mesopotamian world. Comparisons with material from Susa and Uruk from the same period permit a better understanding of this object and confirm and augment prior conclusions about the tomb’s occupant.
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