Ibis

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period

664–30 B.C.

Not on view

An ibis sits with its legs and feet together and tail feathers touching the ground. This elegant bird was sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom, scribal functions, and learning. Representations of the ibis in copper alloy are some of the most numerous sacred animal statuettes, alongside the cat, falcon, and Apis bull. The prevalence of the ibis during the first millennium BC, and the appeal of animal cult in general, can also be seen in the thousands of surviving ibis mummies, which were offered in animal necropoleis (catacombs) throughout Egypt. Ibis statuettes such as this have been found in the catacombs with ibis mummies and also in caches related to temples or shrines.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Ibis
Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Date: 664–30 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Cupreous metal
Dimensions: H. 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.); W. 2.3 cm (7/8 in.); L. 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.)
H. (with tang): 4.9 cm (1 15/16 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904
Object Number: 04.2.459
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet, cupreous metal — Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet
550–300 B.C.

Statuette of Amun, Gold — Statuette of Amun
ca. 945–712 BCE

Cat Statuette intended to contain a mummified cat, Leaded bronze — Cat Statuette intended to contain a mummified cat
332–30 BCE

Statuette of an ancestral king, Wood, formerly clad with lead sheet — Statuette of an ancestral king
390–246 BCE

Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman with the Cartouches of Necho II on her Arms, Silver — Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman with the Cartouches of Necho II on her Arms
610–595 B.C.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.