Description:

Egypt, Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE. A mold-made figure of Harpocrates, the god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality; he was adopted by the Greeks from the child god Horus. In this figure, he stands in a sensuous pose, nude aside from his characteristic pointed hat; he is leaning against a column and standing on a plinth. Size: 3.2" W x 6.95" H (8.1 cm x 17.7 cm)

During the Ptolemaic period, Isis-Hathor, Serapis, and Harpocrates formed the Triad of Alexandria, and in 2011 the Egyptian office of archaeology announced that they had found the ruins of a Ptolemaic temple there containing many figures similar to this one. The British Museum exhibit on Naukratis shows the remains of terracotta molds for making models just like this one; they were made from a dark red-brown Nile silt in vast workshops. These figures were made for locals, but reflected the influence of Greek naturalistic styles in their depictions of the deities. They were bought by individuals and either kept in the home or given as offerings at temples.

Provenance: Ex-Hagar Collection, Ex-private NC collection acquired in the 1980's

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#119286

  • Condition: Repaired around neck and around ankles. Some encrustation and wear to details but form is clear.

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January 18, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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