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Expression of social status in art

Already on the so called Narmer palette the king is shown greater in scale than the other figures.
Not only the king is shown bigger than other people. High officials shown in their tombs are depicted on a much bigger scale than their servants, and even their families.
Jewellery was a social marker in art as in life, without reflecting life necessarily exactly. On this relief the tomb owner Usernetjer and his sons are shown with a broad collar. All other people - servants of the tomb owner - are shown smaller and without any jewellery.



 

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