A Unique Classifier of a Palm Frond

Abstract

In Tjaennahebu’s tomb, the artisan appears to have consciously reverted to the Old Kingdom conception of a classifier derived from vegetal components. Nevertheless, the form employed does not constitute a direct replication of Old Kingdom prototypes; rather, it reflects a further adaptation consistent with the predominant Saite Period copies—specifically, a single palm midrib with projecting spines, in contrast to the earlier rendering of multiple stalks bound and sealed. This palm frond form appears to have been intended to evoke the likeness of a backbone with ribs, as exemplified in the F37B variant, thereby transforming the determinative from a mammalian-based image into a vegetal one, while preserving its underlying conceptual significance.