Serpopard facts for kids

A serpopard is a mythical creature that looks like a leopard but has a very long, snake-like neck. Ancient Egyptians often carved pictures of serpopards on special stone palettes. These palettes were used to mix makeup, especially eye shadow, a very long time ago, even before the famous pharaohs ruled Egypt.

This ancient cylinder seal from Uruk, made around 3000 BC, shows a lioness that some people think looks like a serpopard. It's now in the Louvre Museum.

What is a Serpopard?

A serpopard is a creature from ancient myths. It looks like a leopard but has a very long neck, almost like a snake. This is very different from a real leopard!

Where Were They Found?

You can often see serpopards carved on ancient Egyptian objects called cosmetic palettes. These palettes were flat stones used for mixing antimony, a dark mineral used as eye shadow. These carvings were made during the Old Kingdom of Egypt, which was a very early time in history, even before the famous pharaohs ruled the land.

This is the famous Narmer Palette. The long necks of the two serpopards create a space for mixing makeup.

What Did They Look Like?

In the ancient carvings, serpopards are shown being led by ropes and harnesses. This makes them look like they were domesticated animals, meaning they were tamed and used by people. However, ancient Egyptian artists were very good at drawing real animals exactly as they looked. Because the serpopard has such an unusual shape, most people believe it was a creature only found in myths and stories, not a real animal. Later on, similar creatures also appeared in the art of other ancient lands like Sumer and Elam.

Images for kids

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  Narmer Palette with central depression for mixing cosmetics. (3200–3000 BC)

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  Ceremonial palette with serpopards, from Hierakonpolis. Ashmolean Museum.

See also

In Spanish: Serpopardo para niños