authoritative political view through its use of artistic conventions and compelling symbolism. Many Pre-Dynastic works, such as the Palette of King Narmer, set the stage for years to come in ...

Alamy/ACI Narmer’s name is written on the palette on both sides: a combination of the symbols for a catfish (nar) and a chisel (mer) appear at the top. Early Egyptologists, however, were not ...

5,000-year-old stone Narmer palette, Egypt; Medieval inscribed bronze ... s skull in close combat but were also seen as important symbols of pharaohs’ strength and supremacy.