Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Votive(?) Hippo

ca. 2081–1700 B.C.E.

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

These coarse figures stand on low bases representing sleds or sledges, possibly alluding to a ritual called The Feast of the White Hippopotamus in which a hippo was dragged on a sledge before the king. Worshippers at the festival probably either left these objects as votive offerings or acquired them as keepsakes.

Caption

Votive(?) Hippo, ca. 2081–1700 B.C.E.. Clay, 3 9/16 x 2 3/4 x 4 15/16 in. (9 x 7 x 12.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 70.93.2. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Votive(?) Hippo

Date

ca. 2081–1700 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 11 to early Dynasty 13

Period

Middle Kingdom

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Clay

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

3 9/16 x 2 3/4 x 4 15/16 in. (9 x 7 x 12.5 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

70.93.2

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