Caption

Magical stele topped with the mask of the god Bes. Magical stele cippus depicting in the lower register a naked Horus-Child in a scene of triumph over dangerous creatures. In his right hand, Horus likely holds two snakes, in his left a four-legged animal—perhaps a hyena or a lion. Horus stands on a crocodile. The depiction is related to the myth of a venomous snake attacking the infant Horus during the absence of his mother, Isis; the initiator of the attack was Seth, brother of Osiris, whom young Horus fought to avenge his father's death. The upper part of the monument depicts the face of the god Bes. 664–30 BC; Late Period–Ptolemaic Period, Egypt. Stele; height 20.5 cm, width 12.5 cm., A carved wooden plaque showing a large stylized face at the top with pronounced cheekbones, a broad nose, full lips, and deep-set eye shapes, rendered with visible carving marks and darkened recessed lines; below the face a carved human figure stands with an elongated torso and limbs, one arm extended downward holding the tail of a smaller animal-like figure that is depicted in a crouched pose; the wood surface is textured with grain lines and tool marks and shows areas of darker shading in the carved recesses and lighter tan to warm brown tones on raised surfaces; the plaque rests on a clear rectangular support against a plain light gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A18_158

License type

Rights managed

Available size

47.0Mb (5.1Mb) / 10.8in x 16.9in / 3243 x 5068 (300dpi)

Keywords

Magical stele topped mask god Bes cippus depicting lower register naked Horus-Child scene triumph dangerous creatures right hand Horus holds two snakes left four-legged animal perhaps hyena lion Horus stands crocodile depiction related myth venomous snake attacking infant Horus absence mother Isis initiator attack was Seth brother Osiris whom young Horus fought avenge father's death upper part monument depicts face 664–30 Bc Late Period–Ptolemaic Period Egypt Stele height 20.5 cm width 12.5 cm carved wooden plaque showing large stylized face top pronounced cheekbones broad nose full lips deep-set eye shapes rendered visible carving marks darkened recessed lines carved human figure stands elongated torso limbs arm extended downward holding tail smaller animal- figure depicted crouched pose wood surface textured grain lines tool marks areas darker shading carved recesses lighter tan warm brown tones raised surfaces plaque rests clear rectangular support plain light gray background.