Woman offering Incense

The limestone ostracon (Musée du Louvre. E 14337) from Deir el-Medina, depicting a woman presenting a cup and vase alongside a figure holding a smoking bowl, likely represents a domestic or ritual offering scene. The woman’s pleated dress, perfume cone, and lotus flower suggest she is engaged in a ceremonial act, perhaps making an offering to a household deity, ancestor, or even to a guest in a scene of hospitality. The figure holding the smoking bowl is probably performing an incense ritual, purifying the space or the objects being presented. This mirrors the broader Egyptian belief that incense offerings not only honoured the gods but also protected the home and invoked blessings.

Measuring approximately 11.5 cm in height and 7.6 cm in width, the ostracon reflects the lively and sophisticated artistic conventions of the New Kingdom artisans, this finely executed figurative ostracon (E 14337), dating to the Rameside Period (c. 1295–1069 B.C.), offers a charming glimpse into ritual from ancient Deir el-Medina, the workmen’s village at Thebes.

Acquired in 1934 from Jaroslav Černý, a distinguished Egyptologist, the piece now resides in the Musée du Louvre’s Department of Egyptian Antiquities, offering a rare window into the vibrant culture of Deir el-Medina and the everyday lives of its inhabitants.

Incense

In Ancient Egypt, incense held profound spiritual significance, used in both temple ceremonies and private rituals. A typical incense offering involved a priest, or an individual of status, holding a brazier or bowl filled with smouldering incense, often frankincense, myrrh, or kyphi (a fragrant mixture of herbs, resins, honey, and wine).

As the incense burned, smoke spiralled upwards, symbolising prayers and offerings ascending to the gods. The air became perfumed, creating an atmosphere of sanctity and inviting the divine presence. In temples, priests would wave censer wands or move incense burners around statues of deities, purifying and honouring them. In private homes, such offerings might accompany family rituals, marking important occasions such as childbirth, marriage, or death.

Summary:

Ostracon of a woman making offerings

New Kingdom, Ramesside Period, c. 1295–1069 B.C.

From Deir el-Medina

Now at the Musée du Louvre. E 14337