Narmer Palette

The Narmer Palette conforms to the artistic formality of Ancient Egyptian art and shows that both hieroglyphics and symbolic art were already well developed.

His name is inscribed within a serekh (representing the palace wall) flanked by two cows heads. The cows face forward, contrary to the normal convention. This device was used in representations of the goddesses Hathor and Bat, but some have argued that the cows are acually bulls and represent the vigour of the King.

The back of the palette is dominated by a raised relief which shows Narmer ready to strike down a foe whom he grabs by the hair. This "smiting" pose was very common in Ancient Egyptian art. The king wears the White Crown (associated with Upper Egypt). Above the victim´s head, a falcon (symbolising the Pharaoh) grips a personification of the conquered marshland with a rather uncomfortable looking hook. Beneath the Kings feet lie two fallen enemies probably representing places defeated by the king.

There are three scenes on the front of the palette. In the first, Narmer inspects the bodies of his slain enemies. The King wears the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and carries a mace and a flail. The hieroglyphs which form his name are suspended in the middle of the scene and four standard bearers carry emblems of the royal house (or representations of territory won in battle). Above the dead is inscribed a ship with a harpoon and a falcon on it. This represents the region Mareotis, which was probably the site of the battle.

The middle register depicts two men tying together the long necks of two mythological beasts. This has often been taken to represent the unification of the two lands, but there is no precedent for this symbol which does not appear again in Egyptian art. In the final register a bull, representing the king, tramples a fallen enemy and gores the walls of a city or fortress with its horns. The name of the city or fortress attacked is unknown.