Bearded man. Southern Egypt, Gebelein. Ca. 3800-3500 BCE. Medium: Black shale. Current location: Musée des Confluences.
A strange pharaoh – This statue of the pre-dynastic period may be the first known depiction of a pharaoh. At the time of Nagada (the name of a discovery at the site of Upper Egypt), around 4000 BC. This statue was found in Gebelein, south of Luxor.
According to Tour Egypt:
Gebelein is an archaeological site located about 32 kilometers south of Luxor (ancient Thebes) on the western bank of the Nile (The archaeological site is actually known as Naga el-Gherira). There are two hills at the site that give it its Arabic name of Gebelein, as well as its ancient Egyptian name of Inr-ti, meaning “two rocks”. In Greek times, it was known as Aphroditopolis, and also Pathyris, from Old Egyptian Per-Hathor (“Domain of Hathor). The site is really not of much interest to casual tourists as there is little in the form of visual remains, though the hills provide a good view of the Nile Valley. It may be of some interest, however, more because of the artifacts that originated here that are now spread around in various museums.
Also, other pre-dynastic period objects:
