 Late Period, Dynasty 25-30, ca. 780-343 BCE Bronze, Height: 24.5 cm (9 11/16 in.) Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, and Robert H. Fleming, 1894.259 Right: Statuette of Ptah Late Period, Dynasty 26-31, ca. 664-332 BCE Bronze, Height: 20.5 cm (8 1/16 in.); Width: 4.7 cm (1 7/8 in.) William M. Willner Fund, Art Institute of Chicago #1910.240 Photo © Joan Ann Lansberry |
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(From info cards): Statuette of a Moon God "According to the Egyptian religion, gods could combine with each other to form composite deities. The complex crown of this bronze statuette has characteristics of the god Osiris, as well as the ibis-headed moon god Thoth. This statuette was dedicated to the god by a man named Pamu."
Statuette of Ptah
Ptah, Creator-god of Memphis "The usual iconography of Ptah is already established in embryo by Dynasty I on a calcite bowl from Tarkhan: the anthropomorphic god is smooth-headed, dressed in a high-collared garment with a tassel, and stands in an open kiosk holding a sceptre of dominion. Throughout Egyptian civilisation Ptah, deviating hardly at all from his earliest appearance, is unmistakable on tomb or temple walls: his head enveloped in a tightly fitting skull cap, that leaves only his face and ears to view, and his forearms emerging from the linen wrap that moulds itself closely to his form, permitting no differentiation of his limbs. The tassel from his collar is shown in profile, sometimes taking the form of the counterpoise of a necklace." I've compiled a brief paper summarizing the Memphite Theology. |
