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Ananiah Gives Yehoishema a House

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

CULTURE Aramaic
MEDIUM Papyrus, ink, mud, linen
  • Place Found: Elephantine, Egypt
  • DATES March 10, 402 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 28
    PERIOD Persian Period
    DIMENSIONS Glass: 15 3/8 x 19 1/2 in. (39.1 x 49.5 cm) Object: 12 1/2 x 16 3/4 in. (31.7 x 42.5 cm) Seal: 7/8 × 3/8 × 1 in. (2.3 × 0.9 × 2.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 47.218.88
    CREDIT LINE Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Deed of the gift of a house from Anani (Ananiah) to his daughter Yehoyishma. The document was written by the scribe Haggai ben Shena'iah. Papyrus consisting of 21 lines of text covering entire recto with extensive blank areas at top and bottom. Verso, single line of text. Scattered small gaps in blank areas. Condition: Slight tears at edges and on folds. Upon arrival: Intact, sealed papyrus. Sheet folded in widths of about 2.7 cm.; each end then folded in on center to form document of about one third of total height. Tied around center with many folds of linen string fastened with large mud seal bearing impressions of two seals; larger seal, smaller seal, flanked by crowned uraei. Both exposed sides of folded papyrus inscribed with single line in Aramaic, large, bold hand. Mud seal: An oblong and an oval seal impression in clay. The top and bottom pf the first impression are missing. The inscription consists of alternating signs. The second consists of the prenomen, Men-kheper-Re, of Tuthmosis III, within a cartouche, with a winged disk above (the impression is blurred), and flanked by two uraei. There is a neb sign below. The finger prints of the sealer are preserved, as well as the string fibers and fragments of papyrus from the original document (Papyrus X), which was intact.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Aramaic. Ananiah Gives Yehoishema a House, March 10, 402 B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, mud, linen, Glass: 15 3/8 x 19 1/2 in. (39.1 x 49.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.88 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.218.88_transp5421.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 47.218.88_transp5421.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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