Gos Pateko - very fine details - superb quality - Ancient Egypt, Late Period - Ptolemaic Period, 664 - 32 BC Faience 7,5 cm height. PROVENANCE: - Private collection, France art market, from a collection formed in the 1970s. CONDITION: Good condition, legs and neck rejoined, see photos. Pateko - Pateco is one of the deities of ancient Egypt associated with protection and fertility. This god, who belongs to the Egyptian pantheon of the Late Epoch, is a lesser known figure than other major deities such as Osiris or Isis, but played an important role in the religious beliefs of that time. Pateko was represented in the form of a man with the head of a lion or, in some versions, with the head of a cat, which linked him with strength, hunting and protection, characteristics of felines. It was often attributed the function of protector of the living and the dead, especially in the funerary context. In the Late Period, the cult of Pateko grew considerably, especially during the Saite period (664-525 BC), when many of the votive figures dedicated to this deity were produced. These figurines were generally made of faience, a glazed ceramic material that was very popular in Egypt because of its luster and durability. Fayenza, which imitated precious stones such as lapis lazuli, was used to make small statues of Pateko that served both as protective amulets and religious offerings. Pateko figures in fayenza were common in tombs and temples, where they were considered capable of bestowing protective power and ensuring that the deceased were safe in the afterlife. In addition, these figures were often placed in places where the god's help was sought to ensure fertility or protection from dangers. The details on these faience figures were fine and carefully crafted, and reflected both the craftsmanship of the Egyptians and the religious importance of Pateko in the Late Period.