Serpopard

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Narmer Palette with central depression for mixing cosmetics

The serpopard is a term applied to a what is described as a mythical animal known from Ancient Egyptian depictions. The image is featured specifically on decorated cosmetic palettes from the Pre-Dynastic Period. Examples include the Narmer Palette and the Small Palette of Hierakonopolis.

The serpopard has been defined as a cross between a serpent and leopard, and is supposed to feature the body of the latter and a long neck and head representing the former. The image generally is classified as a feline, however, and resembles an unusually long-necked lionesses instead, for there are no spots, the round-eared head most closely resembles the lioness rather than a serpent, and there are no serpent features such as scales, tongue, or head shape. [1]

The Egyptians are known for their very accurate depictions of the creatures they observed. Their composite creatures, assembled for deities who had become merged in religious concepts, have very recognizable features of the animals originally representing those deities merged. Lionesses played an important role in the religious concepts of both Upper and Lower Egypt and are likely to have been designated as animals associated with protection and royalty. The long necks may be a simple exaggeration, used as a framing feature in an artistic motif, either forming the cosmetic mixing area in the Narmer Palette or surrounding it in the Small Palette.

Depictions of fantastic animals also are known from Elam and Mesopotamia,^[1] as well as many other cultures.

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Category:Mythological creatures of Ancient Egypt

O’Connor, David 2002. Context, function and program: understanding ceremonial slate palettes. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 39: 5–25.