This study examines the nuanced use of skin color in First Intermediate Period artifacts from Gebelein, highlighting how these depictions may have expressed complex identities within the multiethnic community of Egyptians and Nubians inhabiting this area. Focusing on artifacts from the tombs of Ini and Iti, the research identifies unorthodox color applications, including layering and dual tones, which potentially indicate mixed ethnic identities. Described here are depictions of Nubians and Egyptians with varied skin tones challenge traditional art conventions, suggesting a symbolic representation of ethnicity and social status. These findings offer insight into Gebelein’s cultural landscape, where localized styles allowed unique expressions of individual and ethnic identity among the region’s inhabitants.
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