Ostraca

Potsherds and stone flakes bearing writing and/or depictions. They are very common in New Kingdom Thebes and then again in the Ptolemaic, Roman and Coptic Period. The sherds and stone flakes were used as cheaper substitute for the expensive papyrus. Writings on ostraca are often short notes, accounts or literary excerpts in some cases possibly written by pupils.

Figured Ostraca	Greek Ostraca

Deir el Medina ostraca | Teaching of king Amenemhat I on ostraca | Coptic ostraca | Greek ostraca (gallery) | further Greek ostraca (gallery)