Falcon-Headed Sun-God
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
In this composition, Eastman Johnson portrayed an enslaved family charging for the safety of Union lines in the dull light of dawn. The absence of white figures in this liberation subject makes it virtually unique in art of the period—these African Americans are independent agents of their own freedom. Johnson claimed to have based the painting on an actual event he witnessed near the Manassas, Virginia, battlefield on March 2, 1862, just days before the Confederate stronghold was ceded to Union forces.
In agony close to her bosom she press’d The life of her heart, the child of her breast:— Oh! love from its tenderness gathering might, Had strengthen’d her soul for the dangers of flight. But she’s free!—yes, free from the land where the slave From the hand of oppression must rest in the grave; Where bondage and torture, where scourges and chains Have plac’d on our banner indelible stains.
—Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (African American poet), “Eliza Harris” (1854)
Caption
Falcon-Headed Sun-God, ca. 100–30 B.C.E.. Bronze, gold, 4 15/16 in. (12.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 51.147.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.51.147.1_wwgA-1.jpg)
Title
Falcon-Headed Sun-God
Date
ca. 100–30 B.C.E.
Period
Ptolemaic Period (probably)
Geography
Place found: Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt
Medium
Bronze, gold
Classification
Dimensions
4 15/16 in. (12.6 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
51.147.1
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
Which god is this?
It is most likely Re or Re-Horakhty. There were a few deities in ancient Egypt associated with the sun and a lot of them shared similar traits like the falcon head and the sun-disk headdress.The feather on his knee, which is a symbol of Maat or truth and balance makes me, personally, lean towards Re-Horakhty. Unfortunately, this one did come with an inscription to let us know for sure!Cool, thanks!
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