The Handheld Gods of Egypt—1000 B.C. to 0 A.D.

Egyptians worshiped many gods and goddesses, and devoted their lives on the focus of the soul and the spiritual realm. Because of the Egyptian focus on the spiritual, the art of ancient Egypt was centered on the connection between the physical and the spiritual. Handheld statuettes like the ones in this exhibition were used in Egyptian temples as part of their religious practices, but they could have also been used and viewed in homes. Because of their physical essence, the statuettes were like little mediators between earthly experience and the divine, spiritual realm of the gods. Each piece in this exhibition represents one of Egypt’s divine beings. The statuettes have different qualities and different materials, several of which contain precious metals. The material as well as the details incorporated into the statuettes communicated something about each god’s power and importance to the people of Egypt, and unique distinction from the other gods. As you consider the power and importance that these pieces once represented, consider how the Egyptians would have connected the physical materials of these statuettes to the spiritual world. The Egyptians used precious materials to represent the importance of the gods, but they could have also believed in a connection between the precious materials and the divine.

Unknown, Nude female holding monkeys, ca. 945–525 B.C, Pale blue faience, 66.99.71

This figure alludes to the goddess Bastet, who, according to myth, symbolized the return of good fortune to Egypt. The monkeys represent the taming or charming of a somewhat dangerous goddess. This piece stands at a little over eight inches tall, and is made of pale blue faience. Egyptian faience is a material made of quartz and coated with a blue-green glaze that usually contains lapis lazuli. The faience was only somewhat valuable. However, the glaze enhanced the appearance of the material because it was crafted to resemble a precious stone.

Unknown, Cult Image of the God Ptah, ca. 945–600 B.C, Lapis lazuli, 2007.24

This tiny piece stands at just over two inches tall and is made from pure lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone. The statuette represents the god Ptah, chief god of Egypt’s capital city Memphis. This statuette is unique because of its recognizable iconography, including the royal beard, broad collar, and scepter. These details would have communicated the established attributes of the god. The intricate quality of the carving on such a small stone shows superior craftsmanship, and indicates that the piece was used either in Ptah’s large temple in Memphis or as part of a smaller shrine to the god.

Unknown, Ptah Statue, ca. 1070–712 B.C, Bronze, gold leaf, glass, 2009.175

This Ptah statuette is almost a foot tall, much larger than the lapis lazuli Ptah. The material aspect is a stark change in appearance from the shiny lapis lazuli. While the small Ptah piece is notable for its intricate carving, this piece is notable for its size and gold leaf coating. Before the gold leaf coating wore off, the piece would have appeared much different. Similarly to “Nude female holding monkeys,” the less valuable bronze was hidden by the gold leaf in order to appear more like a precious material. Now that the gold leaf has faded, we are privileged to see both layers of material.

Unknown, Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman with the Cartouches of Necho II on her Arms, 610–595 B.C, Silver, 30.8.93

This female figure is best understood to represent the God’s Wife of Amun. The God’s Wife is not a goddess but rather a priestess position in the cult of Amun. This position was one of extreme power and connection to the divine, and was always held by a royal woman such as the wife of the King. This silver statuette would have been used in a temple for rituals. The piece’s physical material represents the prestige of the priestess position. The smooth finish of the piece also draws attention to the material itself.

Unknown, Statuette of Amun, ca. 945–712 B.C, Gold, 26.7.1412

This representation of Amun is the crown jewel of this collection. Like “Cult Image of the God Ptah,” “Statuette of Amun” exemplifies Egyptian iconography specific to the god. Amun is identified by his characteristic flat-topped crown and the gods’ braided beard with a curled tip. The material aspect of the piece has strong connections to Amun as a divine being. Amun was the most important and most powerful god in the Egyptian pantheon. The skin of the gods was made of gold according to myth. Amun is also identified as Amun-Re, god of the sun; and for the Egyptians, the color of gold was strongly associated with the sun. Like ““Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman,” the finish of the piece draws attention to its precious material.