Jar with Zigzag Panels
ca. 3500–3300 B.C.E.
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Object Label
Writing first appeared in Egypt about 3200 B.C.E. Many scholars have long believed that writing came to Egypt from western Asia. Inscribed objects recently excavated at Abydos in Upper Egypt may predate extensive contact between Egypt and the Near East, which would mean that writing developed in both places independently. Many signs and pictures that evolved into writing initially served decorative purposes. The zigzag lines on the sides of this jar, made at least a century before writing began, later became the hieroglyph for “water.”
Caption
Jar with Zigzag Panels, ca. 3500–3300 B.C.E.. Clay, pigment, 6 3/8 x greatest diam. 5 5/16 in. (16.2 x 13.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 09.889.402. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Title
Jar with Zigzag Panels
Date
ca. 3500–3300 B.C.E.
Period
Predynastic Period, Naqada II Period
Geography
Place excavated: Adaima, Egypt
Medium
Clay, pigment
Classification
Dimensions
6 3/8 x greatest diam. 5 5/16 in. (16.2 x 13.5 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
09.889.402
Frequent Art Questions
I'm curious about the jar with zig zag panels.
This pot is from the Predynastic Period in Ancient Egypt. It predates written language and as such scholars have to infer a lot the the meaning and possible use. They believe the zig zag may have represented water since the later depictions of water include zig-zags.
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