Jar

Culture: Ancient Egyptian
Period: possibly Gerzean period (Naqada II), c.3500–3200 BCE
Period: possibly Early Dynastic period (Egyptian), c.3000–2686 BCE
Dynasty: Dynasty 1, 2960–2770 BCE
Date: 3500–2890 BCE
Material: Limestone breccia
from: Abydos, Sawhaj governorate, Egypt, Africa
Classification: Containers, stone & mineral
Collection: Ancient Art
Current Location: On View, Gallery 313
Dimensions: 3 3/4 x 3 1/4 in. (9.5 x 8.3 cm)
Credit Line: Museum Purchase
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 208:1924

NOTES

The design of this container is no accident—the color and shape are meant to imitate an actual heart. Considered to be the location of a person’s soul, or ba, the heart was the most important organ in the body for the ancient Egyptians. It would have taken over 20 hours to hollow out this vessel using stone tools and abrasive sand. Both the amount of labor and the source of this stone from a remote quarry indicate that the owner of this jar was wealthy enough to afford this luxurious object.

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