Lot 1
Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic Period, ca. 332 to 30 BCE. An impressive terracotta figure of Isis-Aphrodite, a syncretic form of the great goddess Isis that emphasizes the fertility aspects associated with Aphrodite, shown here pregnant and lifting her skirt to expose her genitalia in the Anasyrma pose. Crowned by a tiara, the deity faces forward, displaying generously lidded eyes, a naturalistic nose, and plump lips. Her thick coiffure is centrally parted and pulled back into a half-bun with meandering tendrils cascading down her elegantly long neck to rest upon her sloped shoulders. Anasyrma - the Greek term for lifting one's robes - is a Mediterranean fecundity ritual with a double meaning: to wish fertility on someone or something or to receive fertility, usually by gods. Size: 1.07" L x 1.32" W x 4.47" H (2.7 cm x 3.4 cm x 11.4 cm); 4.84" H (12.3 cm) on included custom stand.
The first Egyptian attestation of the Anasyrma ritual is the Chester Beatty I papyrus: Hathor lifts up her robe in front of the god Ra to make him laugh after he was offended by the god Baba, the god of virile strength. In Esna temple there is a sacred ritual linked to Hathor: on the 29th day of Athyr, two women expose their genitals and breasts in front of a representation of the goddess to bless the Pharaoh and the land. Herodotus (Historiae, II, 59-61) describes the festival of the goddess Artemis (Bastet) in Bubasti. He reports that, during the journey made by boat on the river Nile to reach Bubasti, some women lifted their vestment to show their genitals in front of villages and fields to bless them with fertility. This ritual can also be performed to be blessed by a god: Diodorus Siculus (Biblioteca Historica I, 85) writes that women went in front of the Apis bull lifting their robes to be blessed by his fertility powers. Different Egyptian rituals additionally included this gesture, like the dances performed by the khenerout, officiants linked to Hathoric rites, who exposed their vulva at the culminating moment of the ritual.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA; ex-Fragments of Time, Catalog XLIII, #34, July 10, 2008; ex-Fragments of Time, Catalog XXXII, #36, 2004; ex-Sid Port collection, April 1977; ex-Charles Ede, London, UK, Greek and Roman Terracotta IV, #17, 1977
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.
#182224
- Condition: Head professionally reattached to neck, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Chips along base, with softening to some finer details, and fading to pigment, otherwise in great condition. Nice preservation to figural form.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |