Statuette of Harpocrates

Description

Combining Hellenistic naturalism with a finger gesture associated with childhood in Egyptian tradition, this young figure represents Harpocrates, the Greek form of the Egyptian child sun god Horus, or Hor-pa-khred. A hole atop his head likely once held a double crown of Egypt, as on more traditionally Egyptian representations of Harpocrates.

Provenance

Probably Alexandria; Private Collection, England (said to have been purchased in Egypt about a century ago); Robert Hecht, Jr., Rome, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-1972); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Oh (1972-)

Statuette of Harpocrates

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c. 50 BCE

Accession Number

1972.6

Medium

bronze, hollow cast, with silver inlays

Dimensions

Overall: 27 x 10.2 x 8.6 cm (10 5/8 x 4 x 3 3/8 in.)

Classification

Sculpture

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund