Hieroglyph for the Common Folk of Egypt

ca. 1539–1070 B.C.E.

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Object Label

The lapwing bird with outstretched human arms and hands on this decorative tile denotes the population of Egypt, specifically the common people. The image is combined with the hieroglyph for “all” to create the meaning “All Egyptians (common folk) adore.” The object of adoration that completes this phrase could be either the king or a god, depending on the context—a temple or a palace—in which the tile was inlaid.

Caption

Hieroglyph for the Common Folk of Egypt, ca. 1539–1070 B.C.E.. Faience, 4 1/2 x 4 x 7/8 in. (11.5 x 10.2 x 2.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 33.578. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.33.578_NegA_print_bw.jpg)

Title

Hieroglyph for the Common Folk of Egypt

Date

ca. 1539–1070 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 20

Period

New Kingdom

Geography

Possible place made: Tell el Yahudiya, Egypt

Medium

Faience

Classification

Architectural Element

Dimensions

4 1/2 x 4 x 7/8 in. (11.5 x 10.2 x 2.3 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

33.578

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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