Osiris

Osiris, foremost of the Egyptian funerary gods and ruler of the underworld, stands upright in a close-fitting mummiform garment. The garment hugs the contours of his arms and shoulders. He holds the royal crook and flail with his arms crossed on his chest. Copper alloy statuettes of Osiris generally exhibit one of three arm positions: asymmetrical with the right fist over the left, symmetrical with the fists touching, and arms crossed. The latter position, seen here, is the least common of the three but still frequently utilized. Why these arm positions are so consistently represented and how they relate to workshop practices, chronological changes, or conceptions of cult is unknown.
The detailing of Osiris’ attributes is fine and beautifully executed, including the broad collar, a streamer at the back of his neck that overlaps the broad collar, the chin strap holding the false beard in place, and the designs of the crook and flail. The head is large in proportion to the body, drawing attention to the artful carving of the incised lines on the crown, face, and chest. The eyes are deep-cut for the addition of gilding or inlay, which would have made Osiris’ original appearance even more dramatic and arresting.
Osiris statuettes such as this one were some of the most abundant temple offerings in Egypt by the first millennium B.C., reflecting both the god’s importance and changing cult practices that spurred the wide-scale dedication of deity statuettes. Many statues of Osiris were offered in temples and shrines belonging to him, but they have also been found in other contexts, for example near temples and shrines honoring other prominent deities or in animal necropoleis.