The macehead of the king Scorpion II
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This piriforme macehead is dated from Nagada
IIIB and must be allocated to
a second king
Scorpion whose symbol is drawn before its representation.It is the oldest of this
type found in
a deposit of
a temple of
Hiérakonpolis. In fragments, a third has can be reestablished. Intact, it had to weigh
several kilos. This mace is a royal weapon. On this high 30 cm, its decor is distributed on several registers.
In top, some lapwings are hung to stands. To this time, the lapwings symbolized the
inhabitants of the Delta. On another fragment, these are the bows that are hung. The" Nine Bows" always symbolized the universe
submitted to the Pharaoh. It is the victory of Upper Egypt on the delta and some foreign countries.The rest shows the Pharaoh
holding a hoe, the ring of Upper Egypt on the
head and a
garment decorated with a bull tail. This scene has been interpreted of different ways:
digging of a
channel, foundation of the city of Memphis?
Finally,
in top on the right of the
Pharaoh, one
sees two standard
bearers: the royal placenta and
the Khenti-Amentiu dog. They are better visible on the drawings made from this mace.(cf. by ex. B. Menu, 2004). Are lacking the two falcons who
are present on
the head of
club of Narmer and on
its palette.
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