Cleveland Museum of Art

Ostracon: Ramesses II Suckled by a Goddess

Date

c. 1279–1213 BCE

Medium

painted limestone

Culture

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 19, reign of Ramesses II (1279–1213 BCE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Ostraca (singular, ostracon) are natural limestone flakes, common to the region of Thebes. The ancient Egyptians who lived there, particularly the artisans of the royal tombs, used them extensively as writing or drawing surfaces, both for practice and for instruction. Some are almost finished works of art; others are clearly sketches. Whether passing idle time or practicing their technique, these pieces provide a rare look at an ancient artist at work. This ostracon is decorated with a scene of the king suckled by a goddess. Although his body is that of an adult, the king (identified by the inscriptions as Ramesses II) appears child size. The goddess wears a long garment of vulture's wings--she could be any of a number of protective mother or sky goddesses. The artisans who carved the tombs in the cemeteries lived in a tiny community not far from their workplace.

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