How cute is this little (4.9 cm) gold ๐๐๐๐ statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ?!?! This statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ is titled โAnubis as Defender of Osiris/Dionysus (?).โ It is always so cool to see elements of Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman culture combined into a single statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ! This statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ is dated to the 2nd – 3rd Centiry A.D., which is the Roman Period of Egyptian history!
While the Romans equated Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ to Mercury, the Greeks actually equated Osiris ๐น๐จ๐ญ to Dionysus! One interpretation of the statue is this: Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is dressed in a military outfit, in order to signify his role as a fighter against the enemies of Osiris ๐น๐จ๐ญ! Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is holding a Thysrus in one hand ๐๐บ, which is a staff symbolic of/carried by the followers of Dionysus. In the other hand ๐๐บ, Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is holding a falcon ๐๐๐ก๐ .
Cool Connection! BTS actually have a song called โDionysusโ and it is incredible with lots of cool mythological references/metaphors! My favorite line from the song is โArt is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you’ll get drunk foolโฆโ The song is about loving art so of course I love the lyrics because you all know how much I love Egyptian art!
In my independent study of Korean I did learn this though: The Korean word for โartโ is ์์ (yesul) and the Korean word for โalcoholโ is ์ (sul) so these lyrics are actually a word play! I just love languages and connecting the things I love together!