Egyptian Merkhet
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
600 BCE
This Merkhet is an ancient Egyptian timekeeping and surveying instrument dating to 600 BCE. The object is constructed from bronze and features hieroglyphic text inlaid with electrum metal.
It is designed for use in conjunction with a plumb bob to establish a vertical reference for timekeeping or architectural layout. The instrument, which measures 25 mm by 93 mm by 22 mm, functions by observing the passage of celestial bodies across the north-south meridian at night or tracking the sun during the day. It has been fitted with a replica plumb bob, an addition the source identifies as occurring during the early twentieth century.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Sundial
- Origin
- Ancient Egypt
- Function
- Timekeeping and surveying
- Material
- Bronze and electrum
- Ownership
- Bes, son of Khonsirtis
- Dimensions
- 25 mm x 93 mm x 22 mm
- Place recorded
- Ancient Egypt
- Component Status
- Replica plumb bob
- Maker / attribution
- Unknown maker
Design
- Visible features
- • Hieroglyphic inscriptions are visible along the length of the bronze bar. • One end of the object features a decorative, sculpted head component. • A cord and small metal weight are attached to the device. • The bar is rectangular in section with a raised end-piece.
- Operational Utility
- The Merkhet functioned as a multi-purpose tool for timekeeping and surveying. As a timekeeping instrument, it allowed the user to determine the progression of hours during daylight by the sun. At night, it was employed by observing the transit of specific stars across the north-south meridian. This method relied on the plumb line to create a perfectly vertical reference, facilitating precise observation. Beyond its application in observational astronomy, the tool was used as a surveying device. The same principles of verticality used to track stars allowed for the alignment of architectural structures.
- Inscriptions and Identity
- The bronze surface is covered in hieroglyphic inscriptions that denote the original ownership of the instrument. The text identifies the owner as Bes, the son of Khonsirtis. He is described as an astronomer priest serving the god Horus of Edfu, a city located in Upper Egypt. The inscriptions provide context for the tool's intended use. By identifying the owner as an astronomer priest, the text confirms that the Merkhet was used by specialists tasked with tracking celestial phenomena.
- Construction and Materials
- The Merkhet is a small, portable tool fabricated from bronze. The primary body consists of a linear bar featuring an upright section at one end, which is adorned with a sculptural head element. The construction integrates decorative elements through the inlay of electrum metal, which fills the recessed hieroglyphic characters inscribed along the sides of the bar. The device serves as a physical support for a plumb line. While the original plumb line is no longer present in its entirety, the device currently includes a cord and weight assembly. This component is recorded by the museum as a replica rather than an original ancient fitting, with this modification attributed to the early twentieth century.
Identification
- Accession Number
- 1929-585
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The plumb bob is identified as a replica, likely added in the early twentieth century.
- Research required: The specific identity of the owner, Bes, is derived from the hieroglyphic inscription.