The Hellenistic god Harpocrates was adapted by the Greeks from the Egyptian child god Horus, also known as Harpa-Khruti (Horus the Child). Son of the goddess Isis and her husband Osiris, Horus represented the newborn sun as it rose each day. The deity was often depicted as a small boy with a finger held to the lips, a typical Egyptian gesture symbolising childhood and also the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for “child”. The deity was later adopted by the Greeks and the misinterpretation of the gesture of the finger to the lips led to the association of Harpocrates with silence, hence making him the god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality in Ancient Greek mythology.
Egyptian Bronze Statuette of Harpocrates
£ 2,050.00
An excellent Egyptian bronze statuette of a child god, most likely the Hellenistic god Harpocrates, posed as if seated on a throne, his legs are slightly bent and his arms rest on either side of his knees. The figure is depicted nude, as is typical for images of the child gods. He wears a cap with a uraeus and is paired with the sidelock of youth. He is also adorned with a wide elaborate collar represented through careful engravings. The facial features of the figure, including almond-shaped eyes, straight nose and slightly open mouth are very finely rendered and remain clear. Unlike most representations of Harpocrates where the youth is depicted with his finger raised to his mouth, this statuette shows him with both arms at his sides. The figure’s feet rest on a trapezoidal base. Child gods grew in popularity and cults from the Third Intermediate Period onwards. Although Horus the Child was immensely popular as a subject, it is difficult to assign a precise identity to such statuettes without an associated inscription. Such bronze statues of deities were placed in temples as votive offerings.
Measurements without the stand: Weight 100.5g; Height 9cm
Period: Late Period - Ptolemaic Period
Provenance: Ex Abraham Rosen collection, New-York.
Condition: Excellent condition. The figure is solid and intact, supplied with a custom-made display stand. The statuette is covered with an attractive multi-coloured patina.
| Weight | 166.6 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 4.2 x W 6.1 x H 10.2 cm |
| Egyptian Mythology | Horus |
| Greek Mythology | Harpocrates |
| Metal | Bronze |
| Region | North Africa |
Reference: For a similar statuette, Bonhams, London, Antiquities auction, 23 October 2012, lot 392
