<em>The God Osiris</em>, 664–525 B.C.E. Greywacke (sandstone), 8 1/16 × 5 1/16 × 2 11/16 in., 4 lb. (20.5 × 12.8 × 6.8 cm, 1.81kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.163. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 48.163_overall_PS9.jpg)

The God Osiris, 664–525 B.C.E. Greywacke (sandstone), 8 1/16 × 5 1/16 × 2 11/16 in., 4 lb. (20.5 × 12.8 × 6.8 cm, 1.81kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.163. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 48.163_overall_PS9.jpg)

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This piece is identified as Osiris. Do you know what physical characteristics on this head would allow an Egyptologist to end up with this conclusion?

Osiris has a pretty standard appearance, he usually wears some version of the White Crown of Upper Egypt. The unique feature here is in the uraeus, which is the snake that appears on the crown--his is a pretty long snake versus the more standard shorter one. Are you familiar with the uraeus?

Yes, I am. But this is the first time that I see a uraeus like the one on the head of Osiris. Does his uraeus always have that long snake? Is there any one else who tends to wear a crown with a similar uraeus?

I believe Osiris' uraeus is always on the longer end of the spectrum. Royalty almost always wore a uraeus, either on their crowns or in their hair. Other versions of the uraeus are shown either coiled at the forehead or with the body wrapped around the head rather than outstretched.

The God Osiris

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Figures of the god Osiris are particularly common from the Late Period (circa 664–332 B.C.). The craftsmanship of this figure is of a very high standard, the head executed virtually without fault. The bland and benign expression of the face is characteristic of work after the beginning of Dynasty XXVI. That the false beard is attached under the chin and does not envelop it suggests a dating in the second half of the dynasty.

MEDIUM Greywacke (sandstone)

Place Made: Egypt

DATES 664–525 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 26

PERIOD Late Period

DIMENSIONS 8 1/16 × 5 1/16 × 2 11/16 in., 4 lb. (20.5 × 12.8 × 6.8 cm, 1.81kg) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 48.163

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Green slate head of a king (or Osiris?) wearing White Crown on front of which is uraeus with long body. Remains of curled beard with strap. Conventionalized features, eyebrows in high relief, short puckered mouth. Fine quality. At back uninscribed plinth of obelisk form. Condition: Preserved portion intact. Face is preserved to chin. Lower left side of face lost.

EXHIBITIONS

Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION The God Osiris, 664–525 B.C.E. Greywacke (sandstone), 8 1/16 × 5 1/16 × 2 11/16 in., 4 lb. (20.5 × 12.8 × 6.8 cm, 1.81kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.163. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 48.163_overall_PS9.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 48.163_overall_PS9.jpg., 2018

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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

This piece is identified as Osiris. Do you know what physical characteristics on this head would allow an Egyptologist to end up with this conclusion?

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The God Osiris

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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