Archaeologists near Elephantine Island have uncovered antimony-plated granite offering tables dating back to the New Kingdom. These tables were used in the "Festival of the Cataract Spirits," a local celebration dedicated to the deities of the Nile's dangerous rapids and the seasonal arrival of silt.
The use of antimony, a rare material in Egyptian ritual furniture, suggests a high-status invocation of the river's power. The tables were found alongside specialized ceramic vessels used to pour river water onto the metallic surface, creating a shimmering ritual display intended to mirror the turbulent waters of the cataract.