Ancient Egypt - Late Period (626-323 B.C) - Solid Bronze statuette of Osiris, god of the Underworld - height 14,7cm

Solid bronze statuette from Ancient Egypt, made with the lost wax method in the Late Period (626-323 BC).

This statue depicts the god Osiris. Osiris stands erect here, arms crossed in front of the body, holding the pharaonic regalia in his hands; the heka scepter (a shepherd's staff - depicting Pharaoh's role as shepherd of the people) and a flail (the nekhekh - an agricultural symbol for feeding the people). Osiris wears the Atef crown, a white miter flanked by two feathers (Truth and Justice). A snake adorns the forehead.

Osiris was one of the most revered gods in Ancient Egypt. He was the son of Geb (the god of the Earth) and Nut (the god of the Sky). As a god, he fulfilled many roles. He was thus lord of the underworld, but also a symbol of resurrection, of life after death, and of fertility. According to ancient stories, Osiris had come down from heaven and succeeded his great-grandfather Ra as pharaoh (king) of Egypt. The story of his death is perhaps one of the most famous tales to have come down to us from the ancient land, and is handed down in the Osiris myth. 

This myth tells of how Seth, as Osiris' younger brother, became jealous of his kingship. To take revenge on his older brother, Seth tempted Osiris to lie down in a coffin. When Osiris did this, Seth suddenly pushed the coffininto the Nile River, after which Osiris drifted down the river. The coffin was eventually found by Osiris' wife Isis. In his anger, Seth cut Osiris' body into pieces and scattered them to all corners of the Nile. Isis, however, managed to recover the pieces of Osiris' body and mummified them back into one. His genitals had been lost, however, and with it his vitality. By magic, Isis still managed to conceive a child with Osiris; Horus. With this Osiris, destined by Ra as King of the Dead, obtained eternal life.

The figurine has a hollow pin at the bottom of the base, with which it stood on an original base in antiquity (which was probably made of wood and has been lost). Today it stands on a base of marble, from which it can easily be lifted.

Figurines like these were very popular as grave goods in the Middle Kingdom and the Late Period.

 Height: 14.7cm (incl. base)

                  12cm (without base)

Provenance:

- Collection Fritz Frederick, Ghent (1899-1990) - imported before 1945

- Private collection in Barcelona

- Gallery of Antiquities Gallery in Barcelona

Certificate of authenticity is present, as well as pieces of purchase.

Note: An export license is required for export outside the European Union. We will start this procedure upon purchase. Please note that the granting of this permit may take 1 up to 8 weeks.