Ointment jar inscribed with the name of Pepi I

AI image analysis claude-haiku-4-5

Machine-generated from the object's image on May 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.

A travertine ointment jar with a flared rim and pedestal base, inscribed with hieroglyphic text including a royal cartouche, dating to the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt.

This is a well-preserved Old Kingdom ointment jar crafted from travertine (Egyptian alabaster), exhibiting the characteristic flared rim and pedestal base form typical of the period. The vessel's body is incised with hieroglyphic inscriptions arranged in columns and cartouche formations. A prominent central cartouche dominates the decorated band, flanked by additional hieroglyphic signs arranged in vertical columns. The carving is shallow but clearly executed, showing the sophisticated inscriptional practices of the Old Kingdom. The pale cream to golden tone of the travertine is consistent with high-quality alabaster vessels from royal or elite contexts. The vessel's form—with its broad, flat rim and tapered pedestal—is characteristic of cosmetic and ointment containers from the Old Kingdom period.