About this artwork
Horus, shown as a falcon or a falcon-headed man, was one of the most important gods of the Egyptian pantheon. First appearing about 3000 B.C. Horus continued to be revered through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Each Egyptian king was considered to be the “Living Horus on Earth.” The king would often wear a double crown, which symbolized rule over both Northern and Southern Egypt. Here Horus is shown wearing such a crown,confirming the king’s shared identity with the god. Behind Horus is the disk of the sun, protected by a uraeus, a snake symbolizing royalty, from which hangs an ankh, the sign for life.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Artist
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Relief Plaque Depicting the God Horus as a Falcon
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in)
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Date
- 664 BCE–30 BCE
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Medium
- Limestone
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Dimensions
- 31.1 × 28.3 × 3.2 cm (12 1/4 × 11 1/8 × 1 1/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Museum Purchase Fund
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Reference Number
- 1920.258
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/136453/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.