This wooden stamp comes from Karanis in Egypt, and dates to sometime between the 1st century BCE and the 4th century CE. In the ancient Mediterranean, bread formed a central part of peoples’ daily diet and, as in many places of the world still today, while dough was...
Weaving combs are used to beat or compress weft yarns against previous rows, ensuring that the final textile has a consistent density. This large weaving comb was made from three pieces of wood joined with pegs, decorated with a concentric circle design. It is one of...
This is a miniature comb, excavated from Karanis, that was most likely used in children’s play activities. Today, many children play with miniatures of “adult” objects to learn behaviors and mimic social interactions; this comb may have served a...
This tiny figurine depicts Isis-Aphrodite, a syncretic deity that was linked to love, beauty, marriage, and childbirth, combining the attributes of the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The goddess is in the anasyromene pose, lifting her robes to...
Preserved color abounds on this figurine of the god Harpocrates. He leans against a pink amphora, which rests on a yellow base, while holding a pink, rounded pot in his left arm. Next to Harpocrates stands a red and blue oven, on top of which sits a black, spotted...
This knife provides a glimpse into the agricultural practices of Roman-era Egypt. Designed with a slightly curved blade, its purpose was to delicately cut grape clusters from vines. The Karanis collection includes various agricultural implements and processing...
