Ancient Egypt Vase Ignored For 20 Years

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oi-Staff

By Staff

Thursday, February 5, 2009, 11:11

Not realizing its importance, a terracotta vase thought to be ordinary turned out to be an ancient Egyptian relic. The vase dates back to 3000 years and was meant to preserve the organs of the dead at the time of Mummification.

The owner of the jar had inherited it from an old uncle 20 years ago and had carelessly placed it at the front garden in north Dorset. On close examination by the experts, the 13-inch high stone jar has a lid modelled with the face of the Egyptian God Imseti, wearing a black striped wig, who is known to protect the liver of the deceased for afterlife.

The owner realised its value and revealed that the ancient vase dates anywhere between 1550-1069 BC. "It came from an uncle who was a bit of a collector and when he died about 20 years ago it came to us," the Telegraph quoted the owner of the ancient jar, who does not want to be named, as saying.

"We didn't know what it was and we have kept it on the patio and in the shed over the years. It was just used as a decorative piece, a lump of stone. "Then I looked at it and saw it had a face and it looked a bit Egyptian so we took it in to be valued and was told it was from ancient Egypt.

"It was a great surprise that something that had been sitting there for some time unrecognised turned out to be so old," the owner added. Due its severe damage the ancient jar is expected to fetch not more than 1,000 pounds at the auction in Duke's in Dorchester on February 5. However, Amy Brenan from Duke's said: "It is very rare to have something such as this brought to us.

"The owner had had it in his garden for about 20 years without realising what it was. It is incredible to think how old it is and what was happening in the world when this was made."These jars were made to hold the organs of the dead and this one was for livers and had the head of Ismeti as a lid," Brenan added. AGENCIES