Ostracon: Ramesses II Suckled by a Goddess

Cleveland Museum of Art

The image shows a fragment of an ancient Egyptian ostracon. The ostracon is primarily composed of beige-colored limestone. It is roughly oval-shaped with jagged edges and some areas of damage. The artwork on the ostracon depicts a scene with two figures: a woman and a man. The woman on the left appears to be wearing a long, flowing dress and a crown-like headpiece. The man on the right has a shaved head and is dressed in a traditional Egyptian loincloth and what appears to be a long cloak or kilt over it. He also wears a crown. The man is sitting and appears to be suckling from the woman, who is standing. The woman's facial features and skin tone are rendered in darker shades than the man's. The man's facial features include a prominent nose and a small beard or goatee. There are hieroglyphics on the ostracon, including one large oval symbol to the right of the figures. The background of the ostracon is primarily beige with some darker spots and lines that may be part of the artwork or damage. The ostracon is set against a gray background.