Egyptian Libation Dish

Libation Dish (ca. 3100B.C.E. - 2900 B.C.E.
Egyptians

My First Impressions:
I really like this work of art because it is really beautiful, elegant, and interesting; especially the shape. It could be a type of drink carafe (very thin and attenuated). It is very creative. It looks like it was designed in a very interesting way and a very clever way. It seems to me like a symbol, or even like a figure or a person with their hands above their head.
What I Have Learned:
This work of art is from the Early Dynastic period, from Ancient Egypt. The bent "arms," which form the three sides, are read "ka." Ka is the word for "spirit" in the Ancient Egyptian language/hieroglyphics. The "loop" and "the knot" signifies "ankh," meaning "life," or "to live." This could either be read out as "life to the spirit" or it could be the name of a person. This was used as to pour a "purifying liquid," and as brilliantly stated by the Metropolitan Art Museum, "probably water, that would take on the magical significance of the hieroglyphs." This dish was certainly used for something important and to give thanks and acknowledge something, most likely the spirit.

All information from: and Quotes from:
http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/collection_database/egyptian_art/libation_dish/objectview_zoom.aspx?page=1&sort=5&sortdir=asc&keyword=&fp=1&dd1=10&dd2=31&vw=1&collID=31&OID=100000011&vT=2