Lot Essay
For similar frogs found among the temple deposits at Abydos, cf. H. W. Müller, Ägyptische Kunstwerk, Kleinfunde und Glas in der Sammlung E. und M. Kofler-Truniger Luzern, Berlin, 1964, nos. A8-11.
This object is unique in being the only known frog bearing a royal Horus name. However, it is difficult to identify the King. King Dj(et), known from Abydos, whose stela is now in the Louvre museum is one contender. The other is King Den (Udimu), the fifth king of Dynasty I and owner of Tomb Z at Abydos, who can be identified from a number of inscriptions on stone vases and labels as well as from the Abydos King List, where he is allocated a twenty year reign. An ivory label of Den from Abydos showing the King smiting an Asiatic is now in the British Museum (B.M. 55586).
This object is unique in being the only known frog bearing a royal Horus name. However, it is difficult to identify the King. King Dj(et), known from Abydos, whose stela is now in the Louvre museum is one contender. The other is King Den (Udimu), the fifth king of Dynasty I and owner of Tomb Z at Abydos, who can be identified from a number of inscriptions on stone vases and labels as well as from the Abydos King List, where he is allocated a twenty year reign. An ivory label of Den from Abydos showing the King smiting an Asiatic is now in the British Museum (B.M. 55586).