Posted on 02/04/2009 5:37:47 PM PST by nickcarraway
A terracotta vase which stood on a garden patio for 20 years is actually an ancient Egyptian relic dating back 3,000 years.
The 13-inch high ornament with its distinctive pharaoh headdress was originally designed to hold the internal organs of the dead as part of the mummification process.
The Canoptic jar, complete with cover, was left outside in a garden in north Dorset until its owner decided to have it valued.
Experts discovered that the lid of the ornament was modelled on the face of the Egyptian god Imseti, wearing a black striped wig.
The jar was designed to hold the liver and Imseti would have protected the organ for use in the afterlife, according to ancient tradition.
The piece was dated between 1550-1069 BC and is now being sold at the auction house Duke's in Dorchester.
The owner of the ancient jar, who does not want to be named, said: "It came from an uncle who was a bit of a collector and when he died about 20 years ago it came to us.
"We didn't know what it was and we have kept it on the patio and in the shed over the years. It was just used as a decorative piece, a lump of stone.
"Then I looked at it and saw it had a face and it looked a bit Egyptian so we took it in to be valued and was told it was from ancient Egypt.
"It was a great surprise that something that had been sitting there for some time unrecognised turned out to be so old."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I think it's pretty cool that 3000 years later this vase is still serving a utilitarian purpose. Image making something with your hands that someone, somewhere thousands of miles away would be still be using in the year 5000 AD.
In-town cats can be a problem. I live on a farm, so cats are pretty important to me in the barn and in the other out-buildings.
We’ve had a horrible winter so far, so my cats that are usually outside more than in are now in more than out. And they’re quite crabby, LOL!
OOoooh, that could be bad.
Nothing quite as troublesome as a crabby ...um... .tabby.
LOL! :)
If I found something that looked like junk,.... it would be.
I’m never that lucky.
Cats don’t like water and they don’t know what sprinklers are.
:)
At least there isn’t someone around to say ‘they don’t make em’ like that anymore.’.
Cool. I keep hoping I’ll find an oil well in my yard/garden.
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