New Year's bottles, or New Year's flasks, are an archaeological type of lentoid bottles found in the cultures of Ancient Egypt.[1] These bottle were filled with water from the Nile, or possibly with perfume or oil, and offered as celebratory gifts for the New Year.[2] Since the Egyptian New year began at the start of the flood season, offering water from the Nile was a way to symbolise the new cycle.[3]

New Year's bottle on display at Musée d'Art et d'Histoire of Geneva.

References

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  1. ^ Bar, S.; Kahn, D.; Shirley, J. J. (9 June 2011). Egypt, Canaan and Israel: History, Imperialism, Ideology and Literature. Brill. p. 272. ISBN 978-9004210691.
  2. ^ "Lentoid Bottle ("New Year's Bottle") inscribed for the God's Father Amenhotep, son of the God's Father Iufaa". metmuseum.org. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. ^ "New Year-Flask". The British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum. Retrieved 9 June 2019.

Bibliography

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