Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Cippus of Horus on the Crocodiles

3rd century B.C.E.

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Object Label

In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Isis raised Horus by hiding him in the marshes from his enemy, Seth. Cippi, or magical stelae, represent Horus’s healing from scorpion stings and snakebites in the marshes. Egyptians believed that a liquid poured over a magical stela could absorb and transfer the power of the stela’s spells and images to the worshipper.

Traditional Egyptian magic and religion such as this thrived throughout the fourth and third centuries B.C.E. despite the largely non-Egyptian origin of the country’s rulers at that time.

Caption

Cippus of Horus on the Crocodiles, 3rd century B.C.E.. Steatite, 9 1/8 x 5 5/16 x 2 3/16 in. (23.2 x 13.5 x 5.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.73. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 60.73_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)

Title

Cippus of Horus on the Crocodiles

Date

3rd century B.C.E.

Period

Ptolemaic Period

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Steatite

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

9 1/8 x 5 5/16 x 2 3/16 in. (23.2 x 13.5 x 5.6 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

60.73

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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Frequent Art Questions

  • Any idea what this says? Or what it may be about?

    The text is a group of spells protect against attacks from animals, especially venomous ones (like the scorpions and snakes you see Horus holding on the front).
    I have a complete translation, If you like. It is quite long. A few highlights are:
    Hail to you bull, born of the divine cow! Hail to you Horus, come forth from Osiris, born of Isis, the goddess! I have pronounced your name...I have recited your incantations, I have conjured with your spells which you created.
    Awesome!!!!

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