Lot 2A
Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, Dynasties XXI to XXX, ca. 1069 to 332 BCE. A vivid embodiment of divine solar power, this large Egyptian faience amulet depicts Ra-Horakhty, the falcon-headed fusion of Horus and Ra. Finely modeled in pale green faience and notably substantial in size, the figure strides forward atop an integral rectangular plinth in a classic pharaonic pose, left leg advanced and arms held close to the sides. He wears a tripartite wig, a short pleated kilt, and the distinctive sun disc headdress that marks his solar sovereignty. The falcon head is crisply defined, its beak and brow elegantly rendered, while the body bears careful sculptural detail across the limbs and torso, echoing the formal elegance of royal statuary.
Ra-Horakhty, whose name means "Ra (who is) Horus of the Horizons," was a theological innovation of later Egyptian religion, linking Horakhty - the sunrise aspect of Horus - with Ra, the ancient solar creator and king of the gods. As a fusion deity, Ra-Horakhty embodied the rising sun and the divine journey from dawn to dusk, a cosmic arc that mirrored both resurrection and the Pharaoh's own path from earth to eternity. In artistic form, he appeared as the Pharaoh himself - a divine ruler in falcon-headed form, striding in command of light and time.
This amulet, at nearly four inches tall, surpasses the usual dimensions of portable faience charms. Its scale suggests a function beyond adornment - likely serving as a votive figure in a domestic shrine or used in temple ritual. The dorsal pillar rising behind the figure adds both visual presence and structural support, a hallmark of Late Period faience production. The pale turquoise-green hue carries traditional connotations of renewal, fertility, and divine presence, as faience itself was prized for its luminous, otherworldly glow.
Scholars have posited that Ra-Horakhty symbolized more than the sun's passage; he also stood for aspiration, hope, and the assurance of cyclical rebirth. Whether enshrined, offered, or worn, this amulet channeled the protective force of a deity whose light bridged both worlds - guarding the living and guiding the dead through the radiant path of the eternal horizon.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report will accompany the item upon purchase.
Provenance: private Keller Family collection, Alabama, USA, acquired via inheritance, assembled from private U.S. and European collections 1935 to 1950s
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#192727
- Condition: Stable hairline fissure to headdress and some light surface wear as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice detail and earthen deposits in areas. TL hole to underside of base.
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