Narmer Palette

According to the Sumerian king list, ^dDumu-zid   šu-peš

šu-peš is to be identified with šu-ku₆ "fisherman" as is generally assumed, for the meaning of šu-peš is unknown.

Sumerian: peš^ku₆ = "a fish"

Sumerian: šu = "hand"   Sumerian: peš = "three"

A captive being executed

Wall painting from Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis, ca. 3500-3200 BC

HK43 (the non-elite cemetery) Burial 350 was young adult male. The cut marks on his first, second and third cervical (neck) vertebrae are distinct, and additional cut marks on both his mandible (lower jaw) and skull were found. There are two deep cut marks on the lower right side of the mandible, and two vertically oriented cut marks on the left mastoid process, the area just below the left ear. Marks on the forehead are the most extensive and extend for 80.69mm.

Narmer Palette (recto) from "Main Deposit" at Hierakonpolis, ca. 3000 BC

Stele, Girsu, 2278-2270 BC

Scraps of human bone found in and to the east and southeast of HK6 (the elite cemetery) Tomb 23 suggest that three individuals (all adults, one female) were originally buried in it. The special columned area called an offering chapel at Tomb 23 deposited a human vertebra with cut marks indicative of decapitation. It is also from the chapel that fragments of near life size human stone statue were recovered. The statue's size and shape are based on the well-carved nose and two ears, while the rest of it is represented by over 600 small fragments that have proved difficult to mend. Two clay ears from different masks were also found at Tomb 23.

The limestone ears of the statue above, the clay ears from the Tomb 23 masks below

Excavations at HK43 (the non-elite cemetery) have uncovered cutmarks found on the neck vertebrae of 21 individuals, indicating the cutting of the throat and in some cases, complete decapitation, five of whom (all young men) were also scalped. However, none of the victims bore evidence of other violence or defensive wounds on their bodies.

HK43 Burial 147 belonged to an elderly pair found buried together. The male was aged 60+ and the female was aged 50-59. The heads had been cut off and placed on the chests of the essentially intact bodies. Over 15 cut marks were found on the neck vertebrae of the male, in addition, potsherds were found stuffed into the nasal cavity of the man's skull.

Narmer Palette (recto), Hierakonpolis

Narmer Palette (recto), Hierakonpolis	Dorsal view of the skull of a crocodile

Narmer Palette (recto), Hierakonpolis	Gebelein painted linen, Gebelein, ca. 3600 BC

A man fleeing from a house on Gebelein painted linen, Gebelein

Narmer Palette (verso), Hierakonpolis

According to the Sumerian king list, ^dDumu-zid   šu-peš

šu-peš was interpreted as "three stones" on the verso of the Narmer Palette.

Akkadian: šû = "a stone or shell",   Sumerian: peš = "three"

Libyan Palette (back), Abydos, ca. 3200-3000 BC

References:

June 30, 2024   Takahiko Nakagawa