Egypt, Late Ptolemaic to Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 30 BCE to 2nd century CE. A gorgeous cast-leaded copper votive figure representing the sacred Egyptian bull god Apis. He wears a sun disk surrounded by large bull horns - a crown commonly associated with the deities Hathor and Isis - presented with a frontal uraeus, all above almond-shaped eyes and an extended, rounded snout. Apis is shown in stride on four hooved legs atop an integral plinth, his muscular body gradually tapering to a downcast bovine head, with a sinuous tail and delineated genitalia between his back legs. Rich patina envelops the figure, imbuing it with a fabulous archaeological appearance. Size: 2.8" L x 1.2" W x 2.8" H (7.1 cm x 3 cm x 7.1 cm); 4.6" H (11.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Apis was originally worshipped by Narmer, the ruler who unified Upper and Lower Egypt around 3000 BCE - the sacred bull is shown trampling the pharaoh's enemies on the Narmer palette that commemorates the unification. Three thousand years later, by the time of Roman control of Egypt, the worship continued. Though centered around the city of Memphis, the cult of Apis was so extensive in Egypt that the Greeks and Romans wrote about it repeatedly. The famous French archaeologist Mariette, excavating at the Serapeum of Saqqara, found the mummified remains of more than sixty bulls, some buried in their own separate tombs.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#179494
Condition
Weathering to surface with expected abrasions, but otherwise intact and excellent with impressive remaining detail and rich patina throughout.