Offering Table of Neferka

ca. 2500–2170 B.C.E.

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Object Label

Hetjer’s offering table has two depressions to hold liquid and a representation of Hetjer sitting before hieroglyphs that specify his desire for “a thousand of bread . . . of beer . . . of cattle and fowl.” Neferka’s offering table has one depression and representations of what may be a round loaf of bread and a copper pitcher in a basin seen from above. Such offerings were placed on the floors of tomb chapels to hold real food and liquids or, alternatively, to provide them magically through carved images and prayers.

Caption

Offering Table of Neferka, ca. 2500–2170 B.C.E.. Limestone, 2 15/16 × 7 5/8 × 10 1/2 in. (7.5 × 19.3 × 26.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1496E. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Offering Table of Neferka

Date

ca. 2500–2170 B.C.E.

Period

Old Kingdom

Geography

Reportedly from: Saqqara, Egypt

Medium

Limestone

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

2 15/16 × 7 5/8 × 10 1/2 in. (7.5 × 19.3 × 26.7 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.1496E

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