Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Scribe's Exercise Board with Hieratic Text

ca. 1514–1493 B.C.E.

1 of 4

Object Label

Hieratic, the cursive form of hieroglyphs, was used most commonly for writing literature, business and personal letters, and record keeping. The text is an extract from “The Instructions of King Amunemhat,” composed nearly four hundred years earlier. The king urges his son: “Be on your guard against all who are subordinate to you . . . trust no brother, know no friend, make no intimates.” This “teaching” belonged to a common literary genre of classic texts often used to practice writing.

Caption

Scribe's Exercise Board with Hieratic Text, ca. 1514–1493 B.C.E.. Wood, ink, 6 3/16 x 10 15/16 x 3/16 in. (15.7 x 27.8 x 0.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.119.

Title

Scribe's Exercise Board with Hieratic Text

Date

ca. 1514–1493 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 18

Period

New Kingdom

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Wood, ink

Classification

Document

Dimensions

6 3/16 x 10 15/16 x 3/16 in. (15.7 x 27.8 x 0.4 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour

Accession Number

16.119

Frequent Art Questions

  • What kind of ink was used for these writings?

    Great question. Black ink was often made of soot mixed with water and reed brushes were used to write with.

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