<em>Ritual Knife</em>, ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E. Flint, elephant ivory, 2 1/16 x 9 3/16 in. (5.3 x 23.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 09.889.118. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.889.118_view4_SL1.jpg)

Ritual Knife, ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E. Flint, elephant ivory, 2 1/16 x 9 3/16 in. (5.3 x 23.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 09.889.118. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.889.118_view4_SL1.jpg)

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Who owned this knife?

Early reports from when this knife was discovered describes the gravesite in rather interesting detail. Based on that description, the owner was relatively richer that others of the same type in the same cemetery location. The field notes doesn't describe the age or sex of the deceased.

This ritual knife was found in a burial site known as Abu Zaidan. Abu Zaidan is deep in Upper Egypt about halfway between Thebes and the First Cataract (Aswan). Given how intricate the carving of this knife is (look closely) we can surmise it was a very wealthy or important person.

What was this used for?

This dagger was probably more for ritual purposes than functional ones. It's very elaborate and therefore not exactly the sort of thing made for everyday. If you look closely at the hilt, there are over two hundred tiny animals carved onto it. It was a decorative sign of status for its owner.

The plaque says to ask for more info. What can you tell me?

I can tell you all sorts of fun things about this ritual knife. To start with, this knife was found at the burial site known as Abu Zaidan, deep in Upper Egypt. Given the intricacy of the carving, it's likely it belonged to a wealthy or important person.

I recommend looking at the incredible detail on the handle. There are carvings of animals including lions, elephants, sheep, giraffes, ibises, Ibexes, dogs, and even honey badgers.

The thumb rest indicates it was meant to be wielded by a right handed person.

It’s called a ritual knife, but there’s nothing on the ritual. Are there any details?

Unfortunately not. Archaeologists guess that this and other knifes like it served a ritual function because of the large amount of decoration. However, the context in which it was found (in a burial) and shape of the knife itself don't provide enough clues as to what ritual it might have been used in.

Archaeology, especially the farther back you get, especially without writing, can be a lot of trial and error! Informed deductions are sometimes the best we can do!

Is it possibly just an artistic expression, or is there a specific reason to presume religious function? I once read somewhere that in the world of archaeology, “ritual” is code for “Not sure.”

It kind of is! I was trying to be diplomatic but I'm personally inclined to agree on that.

That said, a certain amount of decoration on functional objects does make them hard to use for everyday purposes. Plus the amount of time spent on decoration when someone could be say, farming or performing more important tasks for living, does suggest that the object held enough significance to warrant the time investment.

Ok, thank you for clarifying! :)

What this tool/weapon was used for?

We actually believe it was ceremonial or decorative. The amount of decoration leads us to believe that it wasn't an object made to endure everyday wear and tear, or warfare.

If you look closely you'll see that there are rows of animals carved into the ivory handle.

Yes we see the rows of animals!

There are actually 227 animals in all on the knife, representing 19 different species. You might be able to pick out some elephants, sheep, and domestic dogs!

One thing I find fascinating is that, based on the shape of the handle, researchers know it was meant for a right-handed person.

My son is in search of giraffe.

Okay! There's one on a piece in the Egyptian galleries, but it's is really tiny! On the third floor there is an ivory knife from ancient Egypt that shows 227 individual animals representing 19 different species (including one giraffe!) carved on it.

There it is! Now there's another part to the challenge: The giraffe is on the opposite side of the handle. It's in the second row from the top, the second animal in from the blade.

Is this blade made of flint? I thought flint was black.

I used to think so too! The term flint is very often used to refer to stone that is darker in color, but it’s really just microcrystalline quartz--quartz with a very fine grain--and therefore comes in a variety of colors. If you’ve heard of chert or jasper, these have the same crystal structure.

The ivory part is the handle.

Ah. Learn something new every time! Thank you

The detail on this knife is crazy. Could you give me some perspective on what else was going on circa 3300 BCE?

That's pretty broad! Some highlights in Egypt were that the government that became a unified ancient Egypt and really taking off and writing was being invented. This could be considered the protodynastic period including kings like Scorpion and Crocodile.

Society was becoming increasingly organized and towns that arose as commercial and religious centers were gaining political control of broader and broader regions.

Whoa. We were just joking about that movie with the Rock.

So were we!

Ritual Knife

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Pre-Dynastic, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

About this Brooklyn Icon
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.

Carved in neat rows, 227 animals march along the ivory handle of this flint knife, one of the most extraordinary and well-preserved examples of its kind. Flint blades were not uncommon in early Egyptian tombs, but those with ivory handles are relatively rare.

Although tiny, the animals are rendered so accurately that we can identify many. Giraffes, storks, elephants, snakes, donkeys, Barbary sheep, lions, and honey badgers are among the menagerie. What was their significance? The creatures process toward the blade of the knife. This visual connection suggests they are being led to a sacrificial slaughter. They might represent the results of a successful desert hunt and tribute for a temple. Their orderliness also alludes to humanity’s subjugation over nature and wildness, and the power gained through the symbolic control of these animals.

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Gallery Label

The ivory handle of this superbly crafted knife includes a thumb rest for a right-handed user. Carved rows of minuscule animals—including elephants, lions, a giraffe, and sheep—cover both surfaces of the handle. An artisan polished the flint blade on one side and delicately flaked the other to make a cutting edge.

MEDIUM Flint, elephant ivory

Place Excavated: Abu Zaidan, Egypt

DATES ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E.

PERIOD Predynastic Period, Naqada III Period

DIMENSIONS 2 1/16 x 9 3/16 in. (5.3 x 23.4 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 09.889.118

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

PROVENANCE Abu Zeidan, Egypt, Tomb No. 32; December 1907-January 1908, excavated by Henri de Morgan of Francescas, France and New York, NY; 1909, purchased from Henri de Morgan by the Brooklyn Museum.

Provenance FAQ

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fine large knife of light pinkish grey-brown chert. One face polished, the other flaked all over, with parallel transversal ridges radiating from curving median zig-zag ridge, all very low. Butt trimmed for hafting by lateral cutting and by flaking on polished face. Very fine bifacial retouch on back edge, very fine unifacial retouch and biting serration on cutting edge. The back edge is straight, very slightly recurving to tip, the cutting edge very slightly curving finally curving in a hemicycle to back edge. Butt bluntly pointed. The butt is hidden in a handle of carved ivory. On one face, near inner end, there is an oblong knob, perforated longitudinally with a string-hole. Both faces are covered with relief of animals arranged in rows without groundlines. One of the most important documents of prehistoric art. Condition: The blade has a chip in the cutting edge for ritual destruction, and is broken in two at the point (now mended). The handle has been restored from numerous fragments and fixed in place. It is in fragile condition and parts of the relief are missing.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Pre-Dynastic, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Ritual Knife, ca. 3300–3100 B.C.E. Flint, elephant ivory, 2 1/16 x 9 3/16 in. (5.3 x 23.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 09.889.118. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.889.118_view4_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 09.889.118_view4_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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