Ceremonial Saw in the Shape of a Ma`at-Feather
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
The unusual shape of this saw’s handle is a reproduction of a Ma`at -feather (an ostrich plume signifying “truth”). This shape suggests that the saw was used for ceremonial purposes, such as preparing meat for sacrifice to a god.
MEDIUM
Bronze
DATES
ca. 1353-1336 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 18
PERIOD
New Kingdom
ACCESSION NUMBER
65.133
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Knife-like cutting instrument in bronze consisting of a blade in shape of the m,.t-feather with a finely serrated edge and of a handle in the form of a curved papyrus bundle with umbel, the latter bearing a ring of suspension; all in one piece.
Condition: Good although slightly corroded and discolored in spots. Traced of bronze disease.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Ceremonial Saw in the Shape of a Ma`at-Feather, ca. 1353-1336 B.C.E. Bronze, 12 3/8 x 1 5/8 in. (31.5 x 4.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 65.133. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.65.133_erg456.jpg)
IMAGE
overall,
CUR.65.133_erg456.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 5/20/2008
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
How integral were acts such as sacrifices to various gods to the daily operations of Egyptian societies?
To be honest, we aren't entirely sure how religion figured into the daily lives of Ancient Egyptians. Most what we know about Ancient Egyptian religion is based on monumental temples and funerary archaeology. An implement like this Ritual Saw in the shape of a Maat Feather would have been used in a temple or other elite
setting.
