ITEM: Goddess Meretseger with Osiris crown MATERIAL: Bronze CULTURE: Egyptian PERIOD: Late period, 664 - 332 B.C DIMENSIONS: 53 mm x 18 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired between 1960s - 1980s Meretseger, whose name translates eloquently to "She Who Loves Silence," is one of ancient Egypt's most unique and localized deities. Primarily revered by the royal necropolis workers and artisans of Deir el-Medina who carved the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, she was the fierce yet protective mistress of the Theban Hills. Unlike the grand state gods worshipped in massive temples along the Nile, Meretseger was deeply intertwined with the daily lives, fears, and devotion of the common craftsmen. She was often envisioned in serpent form—frequently as a venomous cobra coiled atop the desert cliffs—watching over the sacred landscape and punishing those who broke oaths or attempted to rob the royal sepulchres. When depicted with the Atef crown or the distinct red-and-white double crown of Osiris, Meretseger takes on a profound funerary and theological dimension. The Osiris crown symbolizes ultimate sovereignty, resurrection, and dominion over the underworld, blending her indigenous reptilian nature with the cosmic order of Osiris, the lord of the dead. In these representations, the cobra goddess bridges the gap between the wild, untamed desert wilderness and the civilized, eternal realm of rebirth. Her association with Osiris underscores her role as a guardian of souls, ensuring that the pharaohs and the humble artisans alike transitioned safely from mortal life into the eternal peace of the afterlife. Today, representations of Meretseger wearing divine regalia serve as a testament to the sophisticated religious imagination of ancient Egyptian workmen. She embodies a fascinating paradox: a deadly desert predator transformed into a compassionate mother figure who offered divine mercy to the repentant, while striking terror into the hearts of tomb desecrators. Through her union with the iconography of Osiris, she stands immortalized not just as a local spirit of the Theban peak, but as a timeless symbol of divine justice, protection, and the eternal triumph over death. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license