Statuette of Isis and Horus
Unknown Artist
664–332 B.C.
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
h. 14.8 cm (5 13/16 in)
Classification
Statuette, Isis, Horus
Period
Late Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904
Accession Number
04.2.585
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite copper alloy statuette from Egypt's Late Period (664332 B.C.), during Dynasties 26–30, captures the goddess Isis tenderly nursing her son Horus. Standing just 14.8 cm tall, the figure exemplifies the era's devotion to divine motherhood and protection, a motif that resonated deeply in ancient Egyptian culture. Isis, the powerful goddess of magic and healing, shields the child Horus—future king of the gods—from harm, symbolizing fertility, kingship, and the eternal cycle of life. Such statuettes were likely used as personal amulets or votive offerings in temples and homes. Crafte...