Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood This wooden votive sculpture represents Isis,  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 6.25" (15.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood This wooden votive sculpture represents Isis, the bride of Osiris, the mother of Horus, the healer, the protector of women, the winged goddess able to grant immortality. The word, “Isis,” is actually the Greek version of her older Egyptian name, Aset or Eset, revealing that she remained a popular deity during the Ptolemaic period, associated with Demeter. Many centuries ago, this sculpture might have been found inside a temple, placed as an offering to the beloved goddess. She is depicted seated upon a throne, holding her right hand against her left breast in what might be interpreted as a gesture of fertility. Her eyes have been inlaid, enhancing the sense of realism. The legend of Osiris states that his brother Seth, overcome by jealousy, murdered him and tore his body into fourteen parts, scattering them across Egypt. Isis traversed the land and gathered all the parts of his body. She then cast a spell that resurrected her deceased husband for one night, during which their child, Horus, was conceived. Thus, Isis was one of the central figures of Egyptian religion, the healer, the giver of life. This gorgeous sculpture features traces of polychrome paint and gold leaf, suggesting that the work was once painted and gilt, revealing that is was a treasure even in its own day. - (X.0175)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 3 rd Century BC to 2 nd Century BC Dimensions: 37.5" (95.3cm) high x 12" (30.5cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Period Medium: Painted  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 3 rd Century BC to 2 nd Century BC Dimensions: 37.5" (95.3cm) high x 12" (30.5cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Period Medium: Painted Wood Following the death of Alexander the Great, his empire was divided between his three generals, each of whom set up their own kingdoms. One of them, Ptolemy, took Egypt as his share and made Alexandria his capital. Ruling as Ptolemy I Soter, he established the last dynasty to rule Egypt with the title of Pharaoh. For the next two and a half centuries, the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Greeks controlled Egypt, mingling Hellenic traditions with the mighty legacy of the Pharaohs. Isis was the bride of Osiris, the mother of Horus, the healer, the protector of women, the winged goddess able to grant immortality. The word, “Isis,” is actually the Greek version of her older Egyptian name, Aset or Eset, revealing that she remained a popular deity during the Ptolemaic period, associated with Demeter. The legend of Osiris states that his brother Seth, overcome by jealousy, murdered him and tore his body into fourteen parts, scattering them across Egypt. Isis traversed the land and gathered all the parts of his body. She then cast a spell that resurrected her deceased husband for one night, during which their child, Horus, was conceived. Thus, Isis was one of the central figures of Egyptian religion, the healer, the giver of life. - (X.0445)   « Less

Ptolemaic Period Marble Sculpture of a Recumbent Lion - X.0450 Origin: Egypt Circa: 336 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 20" (50.8cm) wide Collection:  More »

Ptolemaic Period Marble Sculpture of a Recumbent Lion - X.0450 Origin: Egypt Circa: 336 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 20" (50.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Period Medium: Marble   « Less

Egyptian Blue Glass Zoomorphic Figure - OF.207 Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 1.9" (4.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style:  More »

Egyptian Blue Glass Zoomorphic Figure - OF.207 Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 1.9" (4.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Ptolemaic Kingdom Medium: Glass   « Less

Wooden Loom Shuttle - SF.069 Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 12" (30.5cm) high x 1.65" (4.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood

Wooden Loom Shuttle - SF.069 Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 12" (30.5cm) high x 1.65" (4.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 304 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 28 " (71.1cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Period Medium: Wood The multiplicity of gods in the Ancient  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 304 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 28 " (71.1cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Period Medium: Wood The multiplicity of gods in the Ancient Egyptian pantheon frequently resulted in the merger of the identities of the different gods into one composite deity. Ptah-Sokar-Osiris is one such syncretic deity, combining the attributes of the three gods after whom he is named. Ptah, the creator god, is regarded as one of the greatest deities in the Egyptian pantheon. Ancient inscriptions describe him as “creator of the earth, father of the gods and all the being of this earth, father of beginnings.” He was regarded as the patron of metalworkers and artisans and as a mighty healer and is usually represented as a mummy. The main centre of his worship was in Memphis. Sokar, the “Adorned One,” was depicted in the form of a hawk-headed mummified man. Lord of darkness and death (in the sense of inertia), he presided over the Memphis necropolis and was sometimes viewed as an alternate form of Ptah before their identities were combined. By the end of the New Kingdom, the composite Ptah-Sokar had merged with yet another deity, Osiris, god of fertility, king of the dead, and ruler of eternity. The legend of Osiris states that his brother Seth, overcome by jealousy, murdered him and tore his body into fourteen parts, scattering them across Egypt. Isis, the faithful wife of Osiris, traversed the land and gathered all the parts of his body. She then cast a spell that resurrected her deceased husband for one night, during which their child, Horus, was conceived. Thus, Osiris was the central figure of Egyptian religion, the god who had triumphed over death and therefore offered the hope of rebirth and resurrection to all men.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 336 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 10.5 " (26.7cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood This pierced rectangular panel depicts a seated  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 336 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 10.5 " (26.7cm) high Collection: Egyptian Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Wood This pierced rectangular panel depicts a seated ibis with its sickle-shaped beak resting on the head of a kneeling male figure. The figure wears a frontal uraeus, a stylised cobra that symbolised royalty, divinity or authority in ancient Egypt. Naked to the waist, he wears a short tunic and holds one arm out in supplication. The ibis was considered a sacred bird and associated with wisdom and purity. Thoth, the god of writing, wisdom and the moon, was often depicted with a human body and ibis head. In the late period ibises were frequently embalmed and interred in tombs in earthenware jugs. It was believed that they would provide instruction and protection during the last journey. This panel may well have come from an item of furniture placed in a prestigious tomb, such as a funerary bed or ceremonial chair. In its original state it would have been painted and gilded, but it continues to impress us with its elegant design. (AM) - (SK.023)   « Less

Ptolemaic Glass Inlay of a Skirt - CK.0213 Origin: Egypt Circa: 380 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x 1.25" (3.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Medium:  More »

Ptolemaic Glass Inlay of a Skirt - CK.0213 Origin: Egypt Circa: 380 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x 1.25" (3.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Medium: Glass   « Less

Ptolemaic Painted Wooden Funerary Mask - CK.0285 Origin: Egypt Circa: 3 rd Century BC to 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 15" (38.1cm) high x 10.25" (26.0cm) wide Collection:  More »

Ptolemaic Painted Wooden Funerary Mask - CK.0285 Origin: Egypt Circa: 3 rd Century BC to 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 15" (38.1cm) high x 10.25" (26.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Ptolemaic Medium: Painted Wood   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 200 BC to 200 AD Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 1.25" (3.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Roman Period Medium: Terracotta Since the dawn of  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 200 BC to 200 AD Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 1.25" (3.2cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Roman Period Medium: Terracotta Since the dawn of time, man has offered votives to win the benign favor of his gods. Sometimes these were perishable gifts of food, or wine, or livestock. At other times they were figures of stone, metal, or clay--votives of a more enduring nature. The art of the sculpted clay votive reached its peak in the Hellenistic age, when the artistic influence of Classical Greece spread throughout the Mediterranean and Near East. In and around Alexandria--where the Olympian gods were mixed freely with those of ancient Egypt--the temples were filled to overflowing with lively depictions of deities, royalty, and ordinary folk. As gifts to the gods, these could not be destroyed, so periodically the votives were buried in pits to make room for new offerings. When we look upon their features today--sometimes agelessly beautiful, divine, regal or aloof, sometimes comic or infinitely wise--we come face to face with the human past. - (P.1061)   « Less