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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Martin OdlerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
This paper deals with the correct lexicographic identification of the word Hsmn, which was in Egyptology usually translated as "(tin) bronze", if denoting metal. The departure point is the discussion and arguments presented in 1961 by John R. Harris in his monumental work Lexicographical Studies in Ancient Egyptian Minerals. Previous work on the subject and Harris' arguments are revisited. The weak points are detected as the identification of the colour of the metal and quite peculiar categories of material culture denoted by Hsmn. Moreover, Hsmn appears to be originally an adjective of the semantically broader word bjA denoting copper, iron, and other phenomena. "smn can be translated as tin bronze and/or arsenical copper, although bjA can be used for the same metals throughout the Egyptian Bronze Age. In other words, we cannot expect modern scientific precision in naming alloys from the ancient languages.
Author(s): Odler M
Editor(s): De Putter, T; Karlshausen, C
Publication type: Book Chapter
Publication status: Published
Book Title: International Conference: Minerals in ancient Egypt, from Naqada to Alexandria
Year: 2025
Pages: 143-173
Print publication date: 03/02/2025
Acceptance date: 06/10/2023
Edition: 1
Publisher: Koninklijke Academie voor Overzeese Wetenschappen / Académie Royale des Sciences d'Outre-Mer
Place Published: Brussels
URL: https://www.academia.edu/127439410/What_Type_of_Bronze_was_Ancient_Egyptian_Hsmn
Notes: Conference held in Brussels, 3-4 October 2022.
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 9789075652666
