4 Egyptian Objects

Objects and written documents are sources of historical knowledge that complement one another. While objects can provide physical evidence of cultural practices, texts offer explicit explanations or narratives. Together, they create a fuller picture of the past. This group of objects from Egypt should be analyzed in much the same way one would approach a written document. Consider who might have created the object, with what materials, and for what purpose.

Board Game

Game of Hounds and Jackals (MET, 26.7.1287a–k)
Figure 1: Board game (1814-1805 BCE). Game of Hounds and Jackals from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the public domain. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Game_of_Hounds_and_Jackals_MET_DP264105.jpg)

Razor Belonging to Hatnefer

Razor Belonging to Hatnefer (MET, 36.3.69)
Figure 2: Razor Belonging to Hatnefer (1492–1473 BCE). Razor Belonging to Hatnefer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the public domain. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Razor_Belonging_to_Hatnefer_MET_DP116027.jpg)

Wig

Wig (MET, 30.3.35)
Figure 3: Wig (1040-992 BCE). Wig from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is in the public domain. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wig_MET_30.3.35_EGDP021609.jpg)

Sandal Socks

Egyptian knitted socks
Figure 4: Sandal socks (300-499 CE). BLW Pair of socks by David Jackson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 UK. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BLW_Pair_of_socks.jpg)

Questions for Discussion

What did these artifacts make you think about? Who would’ve used the objects and what do they reveal about Egyptian society?

License

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Ancient Civilizations Copyright © 2026 by John R. Bawden is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.