Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Offering Table

ca. 2800–2675 B.C.E.

1 of 3

Object Label

A carver created the thin top and conical base of this offering table out of one piece of very hard stone. The base was hollowed out with a drill. Tables like this one held food or other substances as offerings to a god or a deceased person.

Caption

Offering Table, ca. 2800–2675 B.C.E.. Anorthosite gneiss, 4 13/16 x greatest diam. 14 9/16 in. (12.2 x 37 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.58E. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Offering Table

Date

ca. 2800–2675 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 2 (probably)

Period

early Dynastic Period

Geography

Reportedly from: Saqqara, Egypt

Medium

Anorthosite gneiss

Classification

Funerary Object

Dimensions

4 13/16 x greatest diam. 14 9/16 in. (12.2 x 37 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.58E

Frequent Art Questions

  • Is this a cake stand?

    Not quite! It's an offering table from the Early Dynastic period of Ancient Egypt. This table would have been placed somewhere inside a tomb, relatives and loved ones of the deceased would have placed offering of bread, water and food here to nourish the dead
    You'll see depictions of offering tables throughout Egyptian history, in wall reliefs, coffins and sculptural work! Keep an eye out as you explore for these depictions. They are usually seen piled high with offerings.

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