Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom, ca. 305 to 30 BCE. A hand-carved wooden falcon, a sacred animal to the Egyptians, shown in a perched position with a wide-eyed expression, a nicely modeled form, and meticulously painted plumage of blue, pink, and orange hues, outlined in black. The falcon symbolizes Horus, one of the most significant and powerful of the Egyptian deities. The ancient Egyptians believed that their pharaoh was a personification of Horus the sky god - depicted as either a falcon-headed man donning the pschent (a red and white crown) to symbolize his reign over Egypt or as the bird itself - a powerful icon of power, speed, and talent for hunting. Certainly this association between Horus and the king existed from the early Dynastic period (ca. 3100 BCE); however, the Horus king cult became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period. Statues of Horus were created to adorn temples as an image of kingship - capturing an image of Horus on earth. Size: 5.875" H (14.9 cm)
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#135336
Condition
A few stable age fissures and inactive insect damage to the base. Small areas on the head's surface have been reattached and fissures on the body have been stabilized with an adhesive (traces of which are visible above one eye, on the chest, and on the wings). Surface abrasions but much original pigment remains.