Maat?

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period

664–30 B.C.

Not on view

This statuette may represent the goddess Maat, who was the embodiment of cosmic order in Egyptian thought. In statuette form, Maat is generally shown in a crouched, seated position and often sits on an openwork plinth, rather than in the standing position shown here. Nevertheless, other standing examples are known and several features suggest that the statuette represents Maat; the fillet that ties at the back of the head is normally worn by Maat and the broken protrusion at the top of the head was probably a single feather, Maat’s signature attribute. Maat did not have a large cult of her own, but instead was often presented as an offering to other gods, and some preserved groupings of copper alloy statuettes show Maat seated in front of another deity in an offering tableau.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Maat?
Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Date: 664–30 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Cupreous metal
Dimensions: H. 11.1 cm (4 3/8 in.); W. 2.9 cm (1 1/8 in.); D. 3.5 cm (1 3/8 in.)
H. (with tang): 12.1 cm (4 3/4 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Eustace Conway, 1929
Object Number: 29.6.2
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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