Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Female Leonine Figurine Holding Snakes

Middle Kingdom

Not on view

The copper twisted cobra staff in the case to the left and the female figurine with leonine ears were found at the bottom of a tomb shaft with other magical objects, including an apotropaic rod segment and papyri inscribed with ritual birthing chants as well as other texts. It has been suggested the tomb belonged to a nurse or magician, but these objects simply demonstrate the importance of rebirth in the concept of the afterlife.

Female Leonine Figurine Holding Snakes, Wood

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.