Cult Image of the God Ptah

Unknown

ca. 945–600 B.C. · Lapis lazuli · Egyptian Art

This statuette depicts Ptah, the chief god of Egypt's capital city Memphis, who is easy to identify by his tight-fitting cap and enveloping shroud. Other iconographic details, such as the royal beard, the large and detailed broad collar, the scepter of merged "was" and "djed" signs, and a platform representing the hieroglyph for universal order, as well as the brilliant blue stone, communicate four important epithets: Lord of Lower Egypt, Master Craftsman, Lord of Truth, and Lord of the Sky. The superior carving of the god's face, scepter, and jewelry is astonishing for a piece of such diminutive size and hard stone. Its style and quality suggests the sculpture was made in a royal workshop and most likely intended for use as a votive piece in Ptah's large temple at Memphis or in a small shrine dedicated to the god elsewhere in Egypt.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 945–600 B.C.

Medium

Lapis lazuli

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Anne and John V. Hansen Egyptian Purchase Fund, 2007