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| Narmer Macehead |
The Narmer macehead is an ancient Egyptian nonstructural stone mace head. It was found in the main fix in the temple area of the ancient Egyptian city of Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) by James Quibell in 1898. It is seen to the
Early Dynastic Period prevail of king Narmer (c. 31st century BC) whose
serekh is sliced on it. The
macehead is now observed at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
The Narmer macehead is better saved than the
Scorpion Macehead and has had several interpretations. Now the opinion is, as for the Palette, that the events described on it tapes the year it was constructed and showed to the temple, a usage which is noted from other finds at Hierakonpolis, rather than great occasions like Narmer's Heb Sed festival or marriage to a achievable Queen Neithhotep, a hypothesis of later scholars, among them Petrie and Walter Emery.
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| Narmer Palette |
On the left position of this macehead we see a king enduring the Red Crown (deshret) sitting under a canopy on a dais, continued in a long cloth or cloak. He is taking the bat and above the canopy a vulture hovers with spread wings, perchance
Nekhbet, the local goddess of Nekhen. Nekhen, or Hierakonpolis, was one of four might hearts in
Upper Egypt that introduced the integration of Upper Egypt at the end of the Naqada III period. Hierakonpoliss spiritual importance continued long after its political role had declined. Directly in front of him is another dais or maybe litter on which sits facing him a cloaked figure. This figure has been taken as a princess being presented to the king for marriage, king's child or a deity. The dais is continued by a bow-like Expression and behind it are three registers. In the center read accompaniments are walking or running behind the dais. In the top read an envelopment with what seems like a cow and a calf might represent the nome of Theb-ka, or the
goddess Hathor and her son Horus, immortals connected with kingship since earliest times. Behind the enclosure four standard-bearers approach the throne. In the bottom read, in front of the fan-bearers, are seen what feeling like a collection of offerings.
On the center break of the macehead, behind the throne with the seated king there is a figure just like the supposed sandal-bearer from the
Narmer palette, besides with the rosette sign above its head. He is followed by a man carrying a long pole. Above him three men are walking, two of them as well carrying long poles. The serekh displaying the signs for Narmer can be seen above these.
The top area to the right of the center field pictures a building, perhaps a shrine, with a heron rested on its roof. Below this, an enclosing shows three animals, plausibly antelopes. This has been hinted as standing for the ancient town of Buto, the situation where the events reported on the macehead might have occurred.
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