Serapis head. Ancient Egypt, Roman Period, 1st - 3rd century AD. Alabaster. 12 cm height, 21 cm with the stand. Condition: Fragment in good condition. Provenance: Private collection, France. Acquired before 1970. Description: This god is seen in his most habitual representation, as an adult with long hair and beard, a wide tunic covering his entire body and with a cloak over his left shoulder. The attribute which distinguishes images of Serapis from those of other similar gods is the calathus or modius, a sacred basket in myths, and a symbol of abundance. These unite the concept of agricultural fertility, life and death, and were used in Ancient Egyptian art and in the Graeco-Roman world. The modius resembles the round pad worn on the head when transporting and balancing a heavy load there. Scholars chose this name as the piece resembles the Roman modius, a utensil used as a unit of measure for grain. Ptolemy I, the first Greek ruler of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great, introduced Serapis as patron of Alexandria and official god of Egypt and Greece, with the aim of unifying both realms. Ptolemy’s intention was, most probably, to find a god that could gain the respect and veneration of both the Hellenic people and the intensely traditional Egyptians. It is unlikely that the Greeks would have accepted an animal-headed god in the Egyptian style, while the Egyptians would have been open to accepting other depictions of this god. A typical Greek icon was therefore chosen, which was proclaimed to be the anthropomorphic equivalent of the venerated Egyptian Apis bull united with Osiris. In this manner Serapis was a syncretic deity around whom cultural practices of distinct origins were combined. Notes: - The piece includes authenticity certificate. - The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) - If the piece is destined outside the European Union a substitution of the export permit should be requested, can take between 1-2 weeks maximum. - The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.