Egyptian Bifacial Magical Stela with Bes

拍品描述

Ptolemaic Period, circa 280-180 B.C Upper portion of an arch-top limestone stele fragment with two dressed faces; the obverse lunette features a winged sun disc flanked by uraei and two partial rows of incised pseudo-hieroglyphs below; the reverse displays the head of the god Bes in high relief, with traces of the head of the young Horus immediately below, who would have been depicted grasping the two partially preserved snakes and a scorpion carved in raised relief to the right; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Sternberg-El Hotabi, H., Untersuchungen zur Überlieferungsgeschichte der Horusstelen (2 parts), Ägyptologische Abhandlungen 62, Wiesbaden, 1999, part 2, pp. 25, 139, pl. XVIII, for a similarly arranged cippus, now in Edinburgh (inv. no. A.1955.179). 450 grams total, 11.6 cm high including stand (4 1/2 in.). Frossart Collection, France, by the 19th century. Private collection, London, UK. Although fragmentary, this stela is easily recognisable as a Horus cippus or magical stela. They were used to heal ailments caused by snake or scorpion venom. Ancient Egyptians believed that water poured over these cippi would turn into a healing liquid that the afflicted could drink or apply to their bodies. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.

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