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Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Not on view
The falcon god Horus stands with his wings swept back. He wears the double crown of Egypt, a royal crown that symbolizes the union of Lower and Upper Egypt, and highlights Horus’ role as the legitimate ruler of the entire land. The falcon wears the double crown because Horus and the concept of kingship were closely tied, as early as the Predynastic Period.
The falcon stands on a rectangular platform, which could have functioned in a number of ways. The figure could have been attached to a separate cupreous metal or wooden base, or it could have topped a standard modeled after those used in festival processions and on sacred barks. The falcon also could have sat on top of a hollow box intended for holding an animal mummy, like 41.160.107. Such falcon mummy boxes, or sarcophagi, would have been offered for deposition in animal necropoleis, not just in relation to the cult of Horus, but also more broadly in association with solar cult.
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Artwork Details
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Title: Horus falcon in double crown
Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Date: 664–30 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Cupreous metal
Dimensions: H. 5.4 cm (2 1/8 in.); W. 1.6 cm (5/8 in.); L. 3.5 cm (1 3/8 in.)
H. (with tang): 5.9 cm (2 5/16 in.)
Credit Line: Funds from various donors, 1886
Accession Number: 86.1.72
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Timeline of Art History
Chronology
Egypt, 1000 B.C.-1 A.D.
Related Artworks
- All Related Artworks
- Egyptian Art
- Figurines
- Metal
- Sculpture
- Statues
- From Africa
- From Egypt
- From 1000 B.C.–A.D. 1
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The Met's collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 26,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from the Paleolithic to the Roman period.
