Head of the God Osiris
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Most sculptures of deities, including the countless images of Osiris made during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods, were smaller than the statue represented by this head, a dramatic example of a composite sculpture in mixed media. The smiling mouth is a stylistic element that helps date the head to the fourth century B.C. or later. For more information on Osiris, see the installations in Temples, Tombs, and the Egyptian Universe.
MEDIUM
Wood, bronze, glass, gold leaf
DATES
305–30 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Ptolemaic Period
ACCESSION NUMBER
58.94
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Wooden head of Osiris wearing the White Crown originally with bronze (?) feathers attached to sides. Angle of the neck shows that head most be from prone representation of the god, a rare type. Bronze uraeus, bronze beard with remains of gilding eyes outlined in purple-blue glass and inlaid with opaque white and black glass. Short full mouth. From a statuette representing the god prone. Entire surface originally gessoed and gilded.
Condition: Most of left eye lost. Bronze uraeus has been reset but appears to belong. The two holes on both sides of crown where Atef feathers were attached, have been filled in and covered over with gesso and gilding. Most of the gesso layer is lost save on right side of neck. Only traces of gilding survive.
CAPTION
Head of the God Osiris, 305–30 B.C.E. Wood, bronze, glass, gold leaf, Height: 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 58.94. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 58.94_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 58.94_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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Tell me more.
This is a head of the God Osiris, King of the afterlife. He is shown wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt, that distinctive bowling pin shape.
On the front of his crown is a uraeus in bronze. You can see the fine detailing of the body and tail of the cobra carved into the crown itself in raised relief. The uraeus is typically worn by royalty and gods and is a protective symbol.
One of the key identifying characteristics of Osiris is his long beard with a curve at the end, shown here. You'll often see people on coffins with the beard, it served to liken themselves to Osiris, king of the afterlife they were trying to gain entrance to.
