Description:
This is a lovely Romano-Egyptian terracotta scene, showing the god Horus. He is depicted with his finger to his mouth, an indication that he is a child here; therefore he could either be Harpokrates (Her-pa-khered = Horus the child) or Harsiese (Her-sa-Aset = Horus, the son of Isis). The Egyptians themselves used to "mix" these gods.
The god is wearing the pschent (the combined crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt) on top of an elaborate wreath. In his left hand he is holding a horn of plenty (cornucopia, symbol of food and abundance). Next to him we see a circular object (which could be a basket or a threshing sieve) as well as a sheaf of wheat. He is seated in an arched structure, possibly depicting the place in the Delta where, as a small child, he was hidden away by his mother Isis from his evil uncle Seth; two small figures of the god Bes protect him on each side.
On an integral base. Most likely from Alexandria.
Dating:
Circa 1st century B.C. / C.E.
Size:
Height 9.2 cm; width 9.3 cm.
Provenance:
Private Israeli collection, purchased from C.J. Martin, London, 1999. An export licence for this object was issued by the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Condition:
Good condition; the piece was repaired from fragments, but this affects the back side only, as can be seen on the photographs.
SOLD
Stock number:
E0620