In Ancient Nubia, two kinds of ivory were used: elephant and hippopotamus. The former, easy to carve and found in great quantity into Meroitic palaces, was brought from regions south of the Butana. The latter, more resistant and accessible within the northern part of Nile valley, was locally used to manufacture small object such as inlays. Often represented in Meroitic art, Hathor and Bes were associated with the protection of the corpse and placed on wooden caskets accompanying the deceased into the funerary chamber.