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Egyptian Artifacts

Graeco-Roman Stela

This is certainly an interesting stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for sure!

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is made of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!Β 

The top section of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ seems to be trying to follow the traditional Egyptian way – the winged π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒ sun disc 𓇳𓏺 and the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— are roughly carved but are definitely there! This design is known as β€œ Horus the Behdetite” and is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that is popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ. Under that, two 𓏻 jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 are depicted! 

In the middle section, from the left, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is depicted holding an ankh π“‹Ή or key which most likely symbolizes his association with/ability to access the underworld (a very Graeco-Roman version of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣)! Then the four 𓏽 people to the right of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are identified by the Greek inscription below: “Pekysis, son of Aruotes, and his brother Pachoumis; Tbaikis the elder and Tbaikis the younger.” Pekysis is thought to be the man holding the torch! Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is depicted all the way on the right! 

Thanks to the MET for the Greek translation because I certainly don’t speak Greek!