ClassificationsAncient Egyptian Art

Bust of a Falcon-Headed God

CultureEgyptian

PeriodThird Intermediate Period or later

Dateafter 1076 BCE

MediumQuartzite

Credit LineGift of Joseph A. Lewis, II and Sofi Lewis

Dimensions9 x 5 3/4 x 5 in. (22.9 x 14.6 x 12.7 cm)

Object number2011.043.001

Label TextThe ancient Egyptians venerated certain brids and animals for their unique characteristics. Some, like the falcon, were deified as gods. The falcon's ability to soar high in the sky was linked to the sun god Horus. In hieroglyphs his name is Heru, meaning "the distant one". Other falcon gods, such as the god of war Montu, reflect the preditorial nature of the raptor. The stone used for this sculpture is red quartzite, a stone associated with the sun.
Published ReferencesSotheby's New York, The Charles Pankow Collection of Egyptian Art (December 8, 2004), 126. lot 125.

ProvenanceEx coll. Charles Pankow (1923-2004), San Francisco, California, acquired from Jerome Eisenberg (1930-2022) [Royal-Athena Galleries], New York, New York. With Sotheby's New York, December 8, 2004, lot 125. Ex coll. Joseph Lewis, United States, purchased from Griffin Gallery Ancient Art, Boca Raton, Florida, December 29, 2010.

Status

Not on view

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