Toilet dish in form of a fish, Egypt, 14 BCE-1000 CE

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Toilet dish in form of a fish, Egypt, 14 BCE-1000 CE. Science Museum, London. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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This small toilet dish sat in the palm of the hand. It may have held cosmetics or ointments. The convex lower surface is carved with fins and scales to resemble an oxyrhynchus fish. This fish was said to be found in the River Nile. The oxyrhynchus was important in Egyptian mythology. The dish is made of steatite soapstone. It may have been used to mix ingredients that formed the basis of Egyptian cosmetics. maker: Unknown maker Place made: Egypt

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