Touching Hands

Amongst the many Egyptian artifacts at the recently restored Neues Museum this fragment - shown a little bigger than actual size - could go unnoticed.

For some reason I find it exquisitely touching. The thumb of one hand covers the back of the other in a loving, almost protective fashion. I find it incredible that this tiny fragment can be such a powerful statement about a bond forged some 2000 years ago.

My friend Jolka, who just returned from a desert excursion in Eygpt and is dedicated to Egyptology, tells me that the clasping of hands normally suggested sexual intimacy between a couple. However she also suggested that the detailing is very unusual for Egyptian statuary as is the positioning and the material. A search on the internet revealed no information about this little fragment and of course I didn't take a photo of the label for reference.

03 decembre - San Francesco Saverio