Ostracon of Prince Sethherkhepshef
The Ostracon of Prince Sethherkhepshef is a painted limestone figured-ostracon of the son of Ramesses III. It is a standing, figured profile of Prince Sethherkhepshef in an adoration pose, with outstretched arms, a sceptre in his left hand, and right hand, palm-forward. Behind Sethherkhepshef in a standard layout of figures and writing, is a vertical column of hieroglyphs reading "king's son of his body, his beloved" with his name appearing at the end.
The ostracon was found in the Valley of the Queens, where a tomb was built for the prince. It is currently in the Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy.
Egyptian ostraca were used for artist's sketchings, cartoons-caricatures, letter documents, school-practice writing, and graffiti. This particular ostracon may be a sketch by an artisan working on the prince's tomb.
