Horus falcon in double crown
Unknown Artist
664–30 B.C.
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.)
Classification
Figurine, falcon
Period
Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Funds from various donors, 1886
Accession Number
86.1.72
Tags
Art Historical Context
This small but striking figure represents Horus, the falcon-headed god of kingship and the sky, wearing the double crown that symbolized the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Created between 664 and 30 B.C. during Egypt’s Late and Ptolemaic Periods, the sculpture belongs to a long tradition of votive offerings placed in temples to honor the divine protector of the pharaoh. Its modest size—just over five centimeters tall—suggests it was likely intended for personal devotion or temple dedication rather than grand public display. Crafted from cupreous metal, a copper alloy favored in Egyptia...