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This is the rating and price for Ancient Roman-Egyptian Silver Harpocrates Figure



Description : Roman, ca. 100 BCE to 100 CE. A miniature, delicately sculpted silver figure depicting Harpocrates, the god of secrecy and silence, shown with his right forefinger to his lips, a gesture commonly interpreted by Greek and Roman conquerors as an exhortation of silence and hence ascribed to Harpocrates as the god of secrecy and silence. After Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the Greeks appropriated the Egyptian god Horus to become their deity Harpocrates (literal meaning is Horus the child). Horus was regarded as the son of Isis and Osiris who avenged his father's death through several battles with Seth, the legendary god of Chaos. To the ancient Egyptians, Horus symbolized the sun as a newborn. Here we have two miniature representations of Harpocrates as the god of silence, secrets, and confidentiality as interpreted by the Romans. Size: figure itself measures approximately 1.5 H (3.8 cm) According to several scholars, Horus' gesture of holding a finger to his lips stems from a realization of the heiroglyph for child. Later Romans misinterpreted this gesture believing that this gesture indicated silence. Hence, in numerous Roman mystery cults Harpocrates became the god of silence and secrecy. Provenance: Ex-Bob Brand and Liz Werthan collection, Philadelphia, PA. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #115388
Price: 653.63 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 900 USD-1500 USD It's free to register now to view!

About the lot N° 22
Title : Ancient Roman-Egyptian Silver Harpocrates Figure
Condition report : Intact and excellent with minor tarnish commensurate with age.
Artemis Gallery, auctioneer, Louisville, US It's free to register now to view!
Sale title : Fine Antiquities, Asian and Ethnographic Art
Sale date : 17 Nov 2016 It's free to register now to view!
Sale Reference : Live Sale

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