The elephant was known to the Egyptians from the remotest period.

They may, perhaps, have found it inhabiting the Thebaid when first they established themselves in that part of the Nile Valley, for as early as the Fifth Dynasty we find the pictured form of the elephant in use as the hieroglyphic name of the island of Elephantine.

Ivory in tusks and half tusks was imported into Egypt from the regions of the Upper Nile.
It was sometimes dyed green or red, but was more generally left of its natural colour.

It was largely employed by cabinet makers for inlaying furniture, as chairs, bedsteads, and coffers.

Combs, dice, hair-pins, toilette ornaments, delicately wrought spoons (fig.