Egyptian Bronze Staff Head of Hermanubis

$2,462.77

A cast bronze Romano-Egyptian staff head of a canid-headed male figure, representing the god Hermanubis. Wearing a belted robe, one arm is outstretched and slightly bent at the elbow, whilst the other hangs to his side. Both hands are now missing. The robe is naturalistically portrayed, with detailing depicted through the use of incised lines to create the natural folds of the material as it hangs. The large, upright ears and pointed snout of the African golden wolf identify the god. The bronze figure has been placed on a cylindrical stand, decorated at the base with a volute motif. Deep green patination to the whole of the statue.

 

Date: 1st century BC-2nd century AD
Provenance: From a private collection, Lancashire, UK; acquired on the UK art market; previously in an early 1990s London collection.
Condition: Excellent. Highly unusual and rare.

SOLD

SKU: AH-840 Category: Tags: , , ,

The god Hermanubis was a popular deity in the Roman period of Egyptian rule. Considered the son of Set and Nephthys, he was a culmination of two deities; the Greek-Roman Hermes and the Egyptian god Anubis. Recognised as having similar roles, they were both considered messenger gods who transported the souls of the deceased to the underworld. He was usually depicted as a male figure with the head of a canid (formerly as a jackal). He would hold the caduceus in his hand, the emblem of Hermes, marking him as a herald and messenger and in this role was a pursuer of the truth.

Gods were not often combined in such a manner, the most memorable being Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Aphrodite. Hermanubis was however slightly different in nature, an assimilation of two deities, created for societal needs.

Weight 259.2 g
Dimensions W 4.1 x H 14.1 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Greek Mythology

Metal

Region

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