Lot 45
Egypt, Ptolemaic to Roman periods, ca. 332 to 30 BCE. A splendid faience statuette depicting a powerful symbol of rebirth in the Goddess Isis nursing her son, Horus, at her breast, all depicted in remarkably preserved detail and enveloped in seafoam green glaze. The wife of Osiris rests upon a throne and wears an ankle-length skirt, with one hand to her exposed breast and the other supporting her son's head. What's unusual about this pendant is the presentation of Isis wearing the Pschent (or double) crown rather than her typical hieroglyphic-style throne headdress. The Pschent crown is typically worn by the adolescent Horus, symbolizing his unification of and rule over Upper and Lower Egypt, so a depiction of his mother wearing this crown is quite intriguing and exceedingly rare! Size: 0.9" L x 0.6" W x 1.9" H (2.3 cm x 1.5 cm x 4.8 cm); 2.6" H (6.6 cm) on included custom stand.
During the Ptolemaic period, Isis-Hathor, Serapis, and Harpocrates formed the Triad of Alexandria, a cult for worshipping the three deities that combined Greek and Roman gods with Egyptian ones. Ptolemy introduced this worship as a way to unify the cultures under his rule. Isis-Hathor was connected to beliefs about childbirth and fertility and Harpocrates (a Greek version of Horus) was the god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality. As a cult figure from this time period, Isis is often shown as a mother, holding her child.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired on November 24, 2006; ex-Sands of Time, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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#182095
- Condition: Head professionally reattached with some miniscule chipping along barely visible break line. A few minor nicks to surface and small areas of pitting as shown. Otherwise, very nice presentation with impressive preservation of detail and even glazing throughout.
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