Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A petite pendant intricately carved from bull bone that depicts a pair of mirrored Apis bulls with distinct bovine heads surmounted with a sun disc between their horns. The striated necks and curved fore legs are identical on either half, and a narrow suspension hole is drilled through a large sun disc mirrored across the back. Liberal remains of a powdery blue pigment can be found on the underside. The Apis bull or Hapis (also spelled Hapi-ankh) was a sacred bull who is identified as the son of Hathor and worshipped primarily in the Memphis region. Size: 0.8" L x 0.3" W x 0.5" H (2 cm x 0.8 cm x 1.3 cm)
Cf. Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, 2013.017.001
Provenance: ex-private Idledale, Colorado, USA collection; ex-John B. Kendrick II collection, Denver, Colorado, USA, acquired 1965 to 1990
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#173036
Condition
Some light abrasions to surface. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive preservation of detail. Wearable as a pendant.