Pesesh-kef (Ritual Implement)
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
This implement, found in a Predynastic tomb, appears to be an early form of the two-pronged pesesh-kef used in funerary rituals. The long, pointed end would have been inserted into a handle.
Caption
Pesesh-kef (Ritual Implement), ca. 3800–3500 B.C.E.. Flint, 2 9/16 x 4 15/16 in. (6.5 x 12.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 07.447.870. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.07.447.870_erg3.jpg)
Title
Pesesh-kef (Ritual Implement)
Date
ca. 3800–3500 B.C.E.
Period
Predynastic Period, Naqada I Period
Geography
Place excavated: El Ma'mariya, Egypt
Medium
Flint
Classification
Dimensions
2 9/16 x 4 15/16 in. (6.5 x 12.5 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
07.447.870
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
Are these tools used for some special funerary rituals? They looks a little bit abstract.
Yes, those are extremely early tools that were used in rituals that would become central to Egyptian religious practices.The arrowhead-looking object would be used to ritually "open the mouth" of statues being placed in tombs - so that they could eat offerings of food in order to nourish the soul in the afterlife. Living priests or family members would bring fresh food (bread, beer, meat, etc) and leave them outside of tombs for the deceased. Everyone hoped that when their time to die came, that someone would leave food at their tomb.
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