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Group of Isis, Osiris, Maat and falcon statuettes

Group representing Isis, Osiris, and Maat with a falcon. The object is made up of two parts: the falcon figure and the group of divinities set on the base. The goddess Isis is standing, wearing the sun disc with horns on a uraeiform modius. Isis is wearing a tripartite wig and a vulture headdress. Isis’ arms are extended forward in a protective gesture. The figure of Osiris is seated, mummiform, wearing a tight-fitting dress which leaves the hands uncovered. He is wearing an atef-crown and he has a false beard. The arms are bent and the fists, the right one positioned above the left and resting tightly on the torso, hold the nekhekh and heqa-sceptres. Osiris sits on a cubic throne with a small backrest. In front of Osiris, there is a squatting figure of Maat. She wears a tripartite wig, which was probably topped with a tall ostrich feather, now missing. The hollow base on which the three figures are mounted is broken at the bottom: the surface is irregular here, and almost half of the bottom of the base is missing. From this break, the casting core is clearly visible. The upper part of the base is decorated with the nine bows, which represent the enemies of Egypt, and the sides are decorated with a frame, within which is repeated a module consisting of an ankh in the centre, flanked by two was hieroglyphs, placed above the sign nb. The falcon figure holds the ankh sign in his wings, and two shen rings in his claws. The falcon head is missing. The tail of the falcon perfectly fits the cylindrical element behind Isis’ feet, which was probably a sort of hinge that, once connected with the falcon tail, allowed to cover and uncover the figures of Isis and Osiris. In this way, the falcon protects the royal couple, and the goddess Maat is in front of the sign ankh. The base is made in the lost-wax technique for hollow casts, the figures are solid cast.

Cat. 514
Metal+glass paste / Bronze
6.5 cm x 36 cm x 15.2 cm
1076–722 BCE
Third Intermediate Period
Unknown
Purchase Bernardino Drovetti, 1824
Museum / Floor 2A / Soppalco / Armadio 05 Metalli / Ripiano 04
Museo Egizio