In Ancient Egyptian culture and mythology Harpocrates, Harpa-Khruti (Horus the Child), was the son of the goddess Isis and her husband Osiris. The deity was often depicted as a small boy, with a sidelock of youth and the index finger held to the lips or the chin, 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 and Roman mythology. This partial statuette is therefore a beautiful example of the cultural and aesthetic syncretism which was common in Antiquity across the Mediterranean regions. Functionally, this fragment would have once been part of a larger statuette and would have been used as a votive offering given by an individual during prayer, and deposited intact in a temple.
Roman Provincial Bronze Statuette of Mercury
$672.05
Romano-Egyptian Terracotta Head of Harpocrates
$196.86
Greco-Egyptian Terracotta Head on a Custom-Made Mount
$264.75
A fine Greco-Egyptian terracotta fragmentary head likely of the god Harpocrates. He is depicted as a youth, and recognisable by the remains of an extravagant headpiece in which he is often represented, as well as by his characteristically cherubic face. Most probably made as a votive offering, the fragment display naturalistic features such as the god’s carefully described eyelids and slightly gaped mouth. The reverse is undecorated with the exception of a blue ‘X’ marked to the top right – presumably a collector’s mark. The fragment’s details stay remarkably intact, omitting the slight damage to Harpocrates’ nose and occasional stain and scratch upon his face consistent with age.
The piece has been mounted on a custom made stand; approximate measurements of item without mount: (l x w) 7.5×5.2cm.
Out of stock
Additional information
| Weight | 153.5 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8.1 × 10.2 cm |
| Culture | Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greek |
| Pottery porcelain | Terracotta |
| Pottery and Porcelain | Terracotta |
| Greek mythology | Harpocrates |
| Region | North Africa, Southern Europe |
