Falcon in double crown
The falcon god Horus stands with his wings swept back. He wears the double crown of Egypt, a royal crown that symbolizes the union of Lower and Upper Egypt, and highlights Horus’ role as the legitimate ruler of the entire land. The falcon wears the double crown because Horus and the concept of kingship were closely tied, as early as the Predynastic Period. Despite corrosion, this falcon preserves some careful detail including the falcon’s facial markings, as well as the long and short feathers of the body.
The figure probably originally stood on a standard or on a small box that would have held an animal mummy, like falcon 26.7.856. Such falcon mummy boxes, or sarcophagi, would have been offered for deposition in animal necropoleis, not just in relation to the cult of Horus, but also more broadly in association with solar cult.
The figure probably originally stood on a standard or on a small box that would have held an animal mummy, like falcon 26.7.856. Such falcon mummy boxes, or sarcophagi, would have been offered for deposition in animal necropoleis, not just in relation to the cult of Horus, but also more broadly in association with solar cult.
Artwork Details
- Title: Falcon in double crown
- Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
- Date: 664–30 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Cupreous metal
- Dimensions: H. 13.2 cm (5 3/16 in.); W. 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in.); L. 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904
- Object Number: 04.2.456
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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550–300 B.C.
ca. 945–712 BCE
332–30 BCE
390–246 BCE
610–595 B.C.
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