Egypt, Ptolemaic period, ca. 332 to 30 BCE. A solid cast-bronze figure of the child god Harpokrates (from the Egyptian Her-pa-khered, literally "Horus the Child") seated nude with bent legs and feet planted atop an integral rectangular plinth. His left arm falls to his side, and he holds his right hand to his mouth as befits the god of silence. His youthful visage exhibits almond eyes, a perky nose, full lips drawn into a slight smile, and a curled sidelock of youth draped on one side. He wears a nemes wig cover with two frontal lappets and a frontal uraeus, and a hemhem (also hemhemet) crown on top consisting of a trio of "mw" crowns topped with sun discs and flanked with ostrich feathers. A rich patina envelops the figure with notes of blue-green patina adding a touch of color. Size: 1.6" W x 5.9" H (4.1 cm x 15 cm)
Harpokrates (also Harpocrates) was, in many ways, one of the most popular deities in the Egyptian pantheon for centuries on end. The offspring of Osiris and Isis, Harpokrates was originally thought to be a protective deity, warding dangerous magic and creatures away from the wielder of his effigy. His depiction as a child was a common sight in ancient Egypt as infantile gods were favored to their adult characterizations from roughly the Third Intermediate Period on into Greco-Roman times. Created mostly as temple votives, child gods were thought to have a higher concentration of power and influence, thus making for a stronger prayer request when left as an offering.
References to Harpokrates appeared in classical literature, including Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 277 (Roman mythographer c. 2nd century CE) and of course Ovid's Metamorphoses as we see in the following passage, "She saw before her bed, or seemed to see as in a dream, great (Egyptian goddess) Isis with her train of holy deities. Upon her brow there stood the crescent moon-horns, garlanded with glittering heads of golden grain, and grace of royal dignity: and at her side . . . (Harpocrates) the god who holds his finger to his lips for silence's sake." (Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.688 ff - trans. Melville - Roman epic ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE).
For a stylistically-similar example from the Ptolemaic period, please see The British Museum, museum number EA35417
Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000
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#158354
Condition
Losses to both hands as shown. Pitting to most surfaces, with softening to some finer details including those on face, and light encrustations. Great patina throughout.