Inscribed Bowl Fragment

Fragment of an anorthosite gneiss vessel, probably a bowl. Inscribed with the 'nswt-bity-nbty' name of the Horus Anedjib, the successor of the Horus Den and probably the sixth ruler of the First Dynasty (about 2925 BC). Two hieroglyphs depict a bee and a sedge plant, usually translated as King of Upper and Lower Egypt and below this is the name 'mr-p-bjA', 'Merpebia'. Beside these hieroglyphs are two birds sitting on top of flags. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Incomplete, surface scratched, surface dirt, label adhered to surface. Sold at the sale of Émile Amélineau's collection, 8-9 February 1904 and therefore highly likely to be from Amélineau's excavations of the Royal Tombs at Abydos. Compare with W. M. Flinders Petrie, 'The Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty. 1900 Part I' (London, 1900) pl. VI, 8 W33 on pink gneiss; pl. VI,4 on red limestone; pl. V, 12 on red limestone. Petrie called this king Azab-Merpaba.