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Offering Table of Hetjer

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
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.
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 2350–2170 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 6 (probably)
    PERIOD Old Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 2 9/16 × 7 9/16 × 8 in. (6.5 × 19.2 × 20.3 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1491E
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Offering table of limestone inscribed for a man named Htr. Hieroglyphs and seated figure are plain incised. Condition: Large chips in upper right and lower left; other small chips. Stone fairly friable.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Offering Table of Hetjer, ca. 2350–2170 B.C.E. Limestone, 2 9/16 × 7 9/16 × 8 in. (6.5 × 19.2 × 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1491E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.37.1491E_erg2.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.37.1491E_erg2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 10/16/2007
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