<em>Illustrated Papyrus</em>, 4th–3rd century B.C.E. Papyrus, pigment, ink, 37.1647Ea1: 13 9/16 × 6 9/16 in. (34.5 × 16.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1647Ea1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1647Ea-e_view1_cropped.jpg)

Illustrated Papyrus, 4th–3rd century B.C.E. Papyrus, pigment, ink, 37.1647Ea1: 13 9/16 × 6 9/16 in. (34.5 × 16.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1647Ea1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1647Ea-e_view1_cropped.jpg)

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What's this?

This painting of a bull-headed deity is one of several fragments of a somewhat enigmatic papyrus. The fourteen figures on it are rendered relatively crudely and therefore scholars suggest that they represent an artist practicing figures and symbols.

The most degraded parts of the papyrus like this deities wig, are areas that would have been blue suggesting that the blue pigment was harmful to the material.

What is this?

This painting of a bull-headed deity is a fragment of a large papyrus that scholars think show practice paintings. If you lift the flap you can see the original image!

Whatever blue pigment the artist used was harmful to the papyrus and created holes that you see in the deity's wig and kilt!

Could you tell me what the round symbol with characters in it means? Thank you!

The symbol is called a cartouche by Egyptologists or "shenu" in ancient Egyptian. It's used to enclose names written in hieroglyphs, usually the names of deities or royalty. This cartouche says "Osiris-Hapy, great god."

That's great! Thank you!

You're welcome!

Why is this sensitive to light?

Organic materials like paper, textiles, wood, certain pigments, et cetera fade and degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light for an extended period of time. Have you ever noticed how the cover of a book exposed to sunlight fades? It's the same principal.

Since this paper is over 2000 years old it is even more susceptible to light damage.

Ultraviolet light breaks down the bonds in organic materials and will effectively cause the material to disintegrate.

Illustrated Papyrus

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Because papyrus was a costly material, it was normally reserved for important documents such as administrative records and funerary literature. For the same reason, talented artists usually drew the illustrations. This crudely drawn parade of important Egyptian deities is therefore quite surprising.

MEDIUM Papyrus, pigment, ink

Reportedly From: Memphis, Egypt

DATES 4th–3rd century B.C.E.

PERIOD Early Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 37.1647Ea1: 13 9/16 × 6 9/16 in. (34.5 × 16.6 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1647Ea1

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION A bull-headed god, crowned with a sun-disk, and wearing a tripartite wig, short kilt, and bracelets. In his right hand he holds an Ankh-sign while in his left hand he holds before him a Was-scepter. The god’s body is painted a deep reddish-brown while his face and the sun-disk are tan. The wig is painted blue (now faded) while the emblems which he holds are painted gold. The kilt is half blue and half gold with black lines to indicate the pleats. The entire figure is outlined in black which is also used to indicate most details. Before the figure’s face is a cartouche. Condition: Fragmentary. Losses are located in the wig, the proper left shoulder of the figure, the kilt, the Was-scepter, and the feet as also missing. Blue pigment worn.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view on the 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Illustrated Papyrus, 4th–3rd century B.C.E. Papyrus, pigment, ink, 37.1647Ea1: 13 9/16 × 6 9/16 in. (34.5 × 16.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1647Ea1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1647Ea-e_view1_cropped.jpg)

IMAGE component, C1-3 obverse, 37.1647Ea-e_view1_cropped.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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