Wide-mouthed Bowl Item Number: 38.578 from the Brooklyn Museum
Credit Line
Museum Expedition 1938, Dick S. Ramsay Fund
Label
The lapwing bird with outstretched human arms and hands represented on this decorative tile symbolized the population of Egypt, specifically the common folk. Depicted with the hieroglyph for "all," it forms a rebus meaning " All Egyptians adore." The object of adoration could be either the king or a god, depending on the context—temple or palace—in which the tile was inlaid.