Nelson - Ancient Egyptian Statues
Faience Statue
Egyptian. Late Period, Dynasty 26-30, 664-332 B.C. From San-el-Hagar. 11 x 5.4 x 1.9cm. FaienceFaience is a process that creates brightly colored ceramic pieces. This piece was green and red. There is a leaf pattern on the side of the throne. The Faience Statue was found in 1885, and was in two pieces.
Guardian Figure
Egyptian. Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, Reign of Amenemhat II. 1919 - 1885 B.C. 57.6 x 11 x 26cm. Wood, plaster, and paint.This statue was found in a chamber inside an enclosure wall in the Mastaba of Imhotep in the Memphite Region of Egypt. The figure is dressed in garment that were representative of Egyptian rules of the time. He was found behind a shrine to Anubis, and it is speculated that with another similar statue, they stood guard over the shrine.
This statue is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Limestone Statue
Limestone Statue of Royal Acquaintance Katep and his wife, Hetepheres. 4th Dynasty. Egypt, Giza. H. 47.5cm. Painted.The husband and wife statue was originally blue and green. Both figures were adorned with jewelry. Coupled statues were often put in private tombs. The location of Katep's tomb, however, is unknown. Note that the wife sits closely and almost evenly with her husband, as to represent their equality.
The God Osiris
Ptolemaic Period, 332 - 30 B.C. Wood coated, covered, and formerly painted, bronze. 1.68 x .36 x .38m.This statue is made with stuccoed wood and metal detail and has eyes inlaid with alabaster and glass.
Osiris married his sister, Isis, and succeeded his father as ruler. His brother was jealous and hatched a plan to murder him. Isis later brought him back to life, and used magic to bear him a son. With an heir, he was able to become the king of the dead.