Alabastron with Inscription
Late Period, Dynasty 26–27 (664–404 BCE)
Medium
Travertine (Egyptian alabaster)
Dimensions
27.6 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm (10 7/8 × 12 × 12 in.)
Classification
vessel
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
64913
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The style and material of this jar are nearly identical to those of Egyptian vessels made 3000 years earlier. Although Egyptian in design, this vessel has an inscription in Greek - a dedication to the twin gods Castor and Pollux. It attests to the popularity of Greek gods in Egypt at the time of its creation, an interest that was reciprocated in Greece for Egyptian gods.
About the Artist
Ancient Egyptian
Ancient Egyptian artists, a collective of highly skilled artisans spanning over three millennia from the Predynastic period (c. 6000–3150 BC) to the Roman era (30 BC–4th century AD), produced some of humanity's most enduring masterpieces. These anonymous craftsmen, often organized in state-sponsored workshops, lived in dedicated communities like Deir el-Medina near Luxor during the New Kingdom (c....