<em>Figure of the Goddess Nephthys</em>, ca. 664–30 B.C.E. Wood, pigment, 16 × 7 × 11 1/2 in. (40.6 × 17.8 × 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 11.681. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 11.681_overall_PS9.jpg)

Figure of the Goddess Nephthys, ca. 664–30 B.C.E. Wood, pigment, 16 × 7 × 11 1/2 in. (40.6 × 17.8 × 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 11.681. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 11.681_overall_PS9.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Do you know of any other religions aside from Hinduism where a certain color is connected to certain gods?

In most polytheistic religions (and monotheistic religions, for that matter) there is a level of association between deities (or religious figures) and colors. Colors tend to carry a lot of symbolism throughout history. In Infinite Blue, there is a small section dedicated to Blue Gods of Egypt and several images of the Madonna wearing her characteristic blue mantle. On the third floor you can see more Egyptian gods in their associated colors. You can also see more images of the Madonna clothed in blue.

Thanks!

What's on its head?

She's wearing a headdress in the shape of her name's hieroglyph. Nephthys means "Possessor of the Mansion." This statue of Nephthys was likely related to funerary practices. Her pose is associated with mourning, and statues like this were known to be placed in burials.

Cool. This is really interesting!

Is she waving?

Her hands convey a gesture of mourning, so she is eternally mourning the person in whose tomb she was placed. This statue of the goddess Nephthys was likely placed in a tomb.

We can identify her as the goddess Nepthys due to her headdress. Nepthys wears the hieroglyph for her name.

Ok, thank you.

What is this figure showing?

She was a goddess common in tomb decoration. She was the sister of Isis and, in myth, they mourned over the deceased Osiris together so they are shown in tombs as archetypal mourners.

What is she wearing on her head? Why is her hair blue?

Her headdress is the hieroglyph for her name. Her hair is blue to mimic the color of lapis lazuli; the ancient Egyptians believed many gods had hair like the blue stone.

What does she kneel on？

It's just a platform. It's decorated with what's called a niched façade motif which is common in tombs as well. It's based on what the walls of the palace look like.

Can you tell me about the ancient Egyptians and lapis lazuli?

The first long distance trade route that we know about was actually establish to transport lapis from Afghanistan to Egypt about 6000 years ago!

Because of the long distance, the stone was considered rare and valuable--even more so than gold--in Egypt and the Egyptians later believed that their gods had hair of lapis lazuli which explains Nephthys's blue hair in this sculpture!

Is this was the statue originally looked like, or has it been restored?

This object hasn't been significantly restored in any way by the museum but it was certainly cleaned!

There is a note that the white areas on the top of the base have been repainted but I'm not sure when this would have taken place, likely before it entered our collection.

¿De qué periodo es esta escultura?

Esta escultura es de antiguo Egipto! Se hizo popular en el Período Tardío (comenzando alrededor del 664 a. C.) para incluir una escultura de madera de Neftis en una tumba. Habría sido emparejado con una escultura de su hermana Isis. Juntos, lloraron a los muertos como lloraron a Osiris.

Gracias!

What was the goddess Nephthys goddess of?

Nephthys was a protective goddess of the dead!

She and her sister Isis were commonly included in tomb equipment so that they could eternally mourn the deceased like they did for the god Osiris in Egyptian mythology.

Were all the Egyptian gods related to each other?

No, not all of them. But Isis and Osiris were married, as well as siblings, and Horus was their son. They represent the legendary first Royal Family of ancient Egypt.

Figure of the Goddess Nephthys

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Wood, pigment

Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 664–30 B.C.E.

PERIOD Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 16 × 7 × 11 1/2 in. (40.6 × 17.8 × 29.2 cm) mount: 16 × 11 1/2 × 5 1/4 in. (40.6 × 29.2 × 13.3 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 11.681

CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund

PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by March 1911, acquired by Nicholas Tano of Cairo, Egypt or Mohasieh of Luxor, Egypt; March 1911, purchased in Egypt from Nicholas Tano or Mohasieh of Luxor by Robert Blackburne Woodward for the Brooklyn Museum.

Provenance FAQ

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Painted wooden figure of the goddess Nephthys on a high oblong plinth. Left arm rests on thigh, right arm held aloft in front of face. Blue wig, high yellow headdress, green garment bound under breasts which are exposed. Condition: Fair, paint in fragile condition is flaking in some places. Base chipped and broken in parts, back of base weather-stained; very good workmanship. Exposed flesh area on torso perhaps repainted. White areas on top of base all repainted.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Figure of the Goddess Nephthys, ca. 664–30 B.C.E. Wood, pigment, 16 × 7 × 11 1/2 in. (40.6 × 17.8 × 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 11.681. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 11.681_overall_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 11.681_overall_PS9.jpg., 2018

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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