TheBattlefield Palette (also known as theVultures Palette, theGiraffes Palette, or theLion Palette)[1] may be the earliest battle scene representation of the dozen or more ceremonial or ornamentalcosmetic palettes ofancient Egypt. Along with the others in this series of palettes, including theNarmer Palette, it includes some of the first representations of the figures, or glyphs, that becameEgyptianhieroglyphs. Most notable on the Battlefield Palette is the standard (iat hieroglyph), andMan-prisoner hieroglyph, probably the forerunner that gave rise to the concept of theNine bows (representation of foreign tribal enemies).
The palette probably dates mostly from theNaqada III (ca. 3300–3100 BC),[2] i.e. late predynastic period, around 3100 BC.[3] The two major pieces of the Battlefield Palette are held by theBritish andAshmolean Museums. The palette was likely excavated inAbydos.[4]
The Battlefield Palette obverse contains the circular defined area for the mixing of a cosmetic substance. It contains the battlefield scene, and forerunners of hieroglyphs:prisoner, tribal-territorywooden standard, thehorus-falcon and anibis bird resting on standards. The fractured lower half of the prisoner on the obverse right may have a hieroglyph at his front (the rectangle, as rounded for land) with suspected papyrus plants attached on top.
The reverse of the palette has dramatically stylized versions of a bird, two antelope-like mammals, a vertical palm-tree trunk, a partial top with fruits, and short horizontal palm fronds.
An individual in robe appears fragmentarily behind naked prisoners.[5] He may be wearing a full-length dress made of leopard skin,[6] and is probably a representative of the victorious Pharaoh standing behind one of the naked prisoner (naked, but for a penile sheath),[5] or a Libyan ally of the Pharaoh.[7] The fragment in front of the prisoner may possibly be part of the ancient sign for "Libya", an early enemy of pre-Dynastic Egyptian kings.[8] The character would consist in the throwing stick on top of an oval, meaning "region", "place", "island", a toponym of Libya or Western Delta pronouncedTHnw,Tjehenw, as seen on theLibyan Palette.[9]
![Man in patterned and fringed dress (probably a Libyan),[10] behind naked prisoner.[11][6]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMan_in_patterned_and_fringed_dress%2c_behind_naked_prisoner%2c_The_Battlefield_Palette_3100_BCE_(reconstruction).jpg)
![The prisoners on the Battlefield Palette may be people of the Buto-Maadi culture subjected by the Egyptian rulers of Naqada III.[12]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aPrisoners_on_the_Battlefield_Palette.jpg)
