Alabaster, which is a form of gypsum or calcite - both soft to carve and smooth, was quarried along the length of the Nile, from Giza to just south of Luxor, and the Egyptians made carved alabaster pieces famous throughout the ancient world. The Egyptians were master carvers and used the abundant stone deposits in the Nile Valley and the Eastern Sahara throughout their history to fashion sculptures, vessels, and monumental buildings that were admired throughout the ancient world. The perfect symmetry of this example demonstrates their skill. The piece was drilled into, and then special tools were used to expand the drilled-upon areas, allowing the walls of the vessel to illuminate when light passes through the stone.
