Figured Ostraca from New Kingdom Egypt: Iconography and Intent

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine a particular set of images found only on ostraca from New Kingdom Egypt. These scenes show women, often with a child, sitting on a bed in a domestic environment; alternatively, they depict women with a child in a kiosk, in an outdoor setting. The purpose of this research is to examine why these images were drawn and to explore what these representations meant to their creators and viewers. The functionality of the ostraca will also be analysed, considering if they were objects in their own right or merely practice pieces for larger scale compositions.