Gebel el-Arak Knife

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The Gebel el-Arak Knife, on display at the Louvre.

The Gebel el-Arak Knife is a 25.50 cm long knife dating from circa 3300 - 3200 BC, the late pre-dynastic period in Egypt, which when it was purchased in Cairo^[1] was said to have been found at the site of Gebel el-Arak, south of Abydos.

The blade is made of ripple-flaked flintstone and the handle of the ivory of a hippopotamus canine tooth. The handle is richly carved in low relief with a scene of a battle on the front, and with mythological themes on the back.

The back side of the handle shows Mesopotamian influence,^[2] featuring the god El wearing Mesopotamian clothing, flanked by two upright lions symbolizing the Morning and Evening Stars (now both identified with the planet Venus).^[3] Grimal prefers not to speculate on the identity of the figure, referring to him as a "warrior".^[4] It also contains a "knob", a perforated suspension lug.

The knife^[5] is on display at the Musée du Louvre (Accession number E 11517).

Front side of the handle

Back side of the handle

[edit] References

Nicolas-Christophe Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, Blackwell Publishing 1992, ISBN 0631193960, pp.29ff.

^ Samuel Mark, From Egypt to Mesopotamia: a Study of Predynastic Trade Routes (Texas A & M Press) 1997.
^ Barbara Watterson, The Egyptians, Blackwell Publishing 1997, ISBN 0631211950, p.41
^ Robert du Mesnil du Buisson: "Le décor asiatique du couteau de Gebel el-Arak", in BIFAO 68 (1969), pp.63-83
^ Grimal, op.cit., p.36
^ Another knife of similar materials but worn and battered, is conserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; see Bruce Williams, Thomas J. Logan, and William J. Murnane, "The Metropolitan Museum Knife Handle and Aspects of Pharaonic Imagery before Narmer" Journal of Near Eastern Studies 46.4 (October 1987:245-285).