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Ostracon of a stone mason: E.GA.4324a.1943

An image of Ostracon, figured
View image details Mirador icon - view image Mirador deep zoom IIIF Manifest IIIF Manifest Slow looking

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An image of Ostracon, figured
An image of Ostracon, figured
An image of Ostracon, figured
An image of Ostracon, figured
An image of Ostracon, figured
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Current Location: Exhibition: Exhibition: Made in Ancient Egypt, 3 October 2025 – 12 April 2026 (Adeane Gallery)

Titles

Ostracon of a stone mason

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Limestone ostracon featuring a depiction of a stone mason at work, and a representation of Meretseger with an line of written offering beneath it. A sign that the ostracon was originally larger can be seen on the 'reverse' where the raised arm and a leg of the devotee (the scribe Imyshe), is partially represented on the right edge of the stone.

Stonemason at work, on one side, uraeus and inscription on other side. The stone mason is a stubbled man with a chisel in hand. He has his head thrown back and appears to be singing. On the reverse the scribe Imyshe, son of Nebnufer, offers to the snake goddess Meretseger.

Legal notes

Given by Major Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson, Pasha, and Colonel Thomas Gayer Gayer-Anderson, 1943

Measurements and weight

Depth: 2.7 cm
Length: 14.8 cm
Width: 14 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1943) by Gayer-Anderson, R. G. (Major)

Dating

New Kingdom
19th Dynasty
Circa -1295 BCE - Circa -1186 BCE

Project

  • Egypt

Materials used in production

Limestone

Techniques used in production

Painted

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: E.GA.4324a.1943
Primary reference Number: 58783
Oldadmincategory: SS

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 25 September 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Antiquities

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Ostracon of a stone mason" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/58783 Accessed: 2025-12-05 07:28:49

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/58783 |title=Ostracon of a stone mason |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 07:28:49|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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