Wash (pharaoh)
| ||
| wˁš inhieroglyphs | ||
|---|---|---|
Wash(fl. c.3150 BC) was possibly a pharaoh from thePredynastic PeriodinAncient Egypt,more than 5,000 years ago. As Wash is known only through his appearance as a captive of the pharaohNarmeron the eponymouspalette,his existence is contested.
Background[edit]
Wash's historical existence is uncertain. The siltstone object on which he appears was discovered byBritisharcheologistsJames E. QuibellandFrederick W. Green.They excavated the pallet during their 1897–98 dig season at theTemple of HorusatNekhen.[2][3][4]The reverse of the Palette depicts a kneeling captive, "un-Egyptian in appearance", about to be clubbed by the far larger figure ofNarmer.[5][6]Just as Narmer has a famousrebuscarved next to him on the front of the palette (a catfish above a chisel) two primitivehieroglyphsappear near the captive. These are small images of aharpoonand alake.Scholars have considered this harpoon-and-lake rebus as either a representation of the Harpoonnome,a community in the NorthwesternNile Deltanext to theLibyanborders, or the captive's personal name. If the latter is the case then the prisoner's name can be read asWashorWashi.[7][6]
If Wash was a historical figure he may have been the last ruler of aLower Egyptiandynasty based atButo.Indeed, Narmer's fame rests on being the Upper Egyptian pharaoh to defeat the last Lower Egyptian pharaoh. However, rather than recording this historical event the palette may simply depict an allegory for Narmer's excellence and right of command, with the figure of Wash having been recruited to the task.[8]
Archaeologist Edwin van den Brink argued that another predynastic Lower Egyptian ruler,Hedju Hor,is the figure depicted as Wash. van den Brink based this argument on the similarities between Hor's own heraldic crest, hisserekh,and the carving above Wash on the Narmer palette depicting Horus leading a ship out of papyrus reeds with a rope through the nose of its male figurehead.[9]
References[edit]
- ^Egypt,” Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.), v. 9, 1911, plate II (between pp. 64 and 65),#23.
- ^[1]J. E. Quibell, Hierakonpolis pt. I. Plates of discoveries in 1898 by J. E. Quibell, with notes by W. M. F. Petrie, Quaritch, 1900
- ^[2]J. E. Quibell, Hierakonpolis pt. II. Plates of discoveries, 1898–99, with Description of the site in detail, by F. W. Green., Quaritch, 1902
- ^The Ancient Egypt Site – The Narmer PaletteArchived2006-06-15 at theWayback Machineaccessed September 19, 2007
- ^O'Connor, David(2011). "The Narmer Palette: A New Interpretation". In Teeter, Emily (ed.).Before the Pyramids: The Origins of Egyptian Civilization.The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.ISBN978-1885923-82-0.,p.148
- ^abHeagy, Thomas C. (2014)."Who was Menes?".Archeo-Nil.24:59–92.,p.66
- ^
Helck, Wolfgang(1987).Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit.Ägyptologische Abhandlungen 45. Wiesbaden.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link),p.98 - ^Wilkinson, Toby(1999).Early Dynastic Egypt.Routledge.ISBN0-203-20421-2.,pp.40–41
- ^van den Brink, Edwin (1996). "The Incised Serekh-signs of Dynasties 0–1, Part I: Complete Vessels". In Spencer, Alan J. (ed.).Aspects of Early Egypt.London: British Museum Press. pp. 140–158.ISBN0714109991.,p.147
 | This Ancient Egypt biographical article is astub.You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |