The Palermo Stone: the Earliest Royal Inscription from Ancient Egypt

Abstract

The Palermo Stone of black basalt, which probably stood in Heliopolis, is housed today in the Museum of Palermo, while smaller fragments of it are kept in museums in Cairo and London. This fragment can be regarded as the earliest Egyptian royal inscription, because its faces preserve the earliest royal annals. Its royal annals were comprised by the royal names from the Early Dynasty to the Fifth Dynasty and the principal events of that particular year. In addition, it provides us with significant information about the Old Kingdom, such as historical circumstances, the nature of these reigns and some king’s ritual activities. These are great values to us knowing about the royal deeds of the Old Kingdom.