Ancient Egyptian Bronze Sculpture of the God Min. Late Period, 664 - 332 BC. 16.5 cm height.
06
days
17
hours
45
minutes
19
seconds
Current bid
€ 130
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 11,000 - € 14,000
12 other people are watching this object
 Bidder 5272 | €130 | |
|---|---|---|
 Bidder 8721 | €120 | |
 Bidder 1312 | €110 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 122028 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Ancient Egyptian bronze sculpture of the god Min from the Late Period (664–332 BC), 22 cm high without a stand, in good condition with reconstruction of two crown feathers.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Sculpture of the God Min.
Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664 - 332 BC.
Bronze.
22 cm height without stand.
Condition: Good condition, all intact, only have reconstruction of the two crown feathers.
Provenance: Private collection, France. Acquired before the 1970's.
Description:
Min was a very ancient deity in Ancient Egypt, worshipped primarily as the god of fertility, male virility, and reproduction. His cult dates back to the Predynastic Period (before 3100 BC) and lasted for millennia. Min was typically depicted as a mummified man, standing with one arm raised holding a whip or mace, and with an erect penis, symbolising his role as the god of life. He was often crowned with two tall feathers and associated with the colour black, a symbol of fertility due to the fertile silt of the Nile.
Min was particularly worshipped in the cities of Coptos (Qift) and Akhmim in Upper Egypt, where festivals were held in his honour. One of the best-known rituals was the procession of the god's statue outside the temple, in which the pharaoh participated as a symbol of his role as sustainer of order and fertility in the country. During these festivities, lettuce, considered an aphrodisiac, was offered, and rituals were performed to ensure abundant harvests.
Over time, especially during the New Kingdom (approximately 1550–1070 BC), Min was syncretised with other important gods. One of the most notable mergers was with Amun, the chief god of Thebes, who was also associated with fertility, creation, and divine power. This merger gave rise to the figure of Amun-Min (also spelled Amon-Min), a manifestation that combined Min's reproductive qualities with Amun's creative, protective, and universal power.
Amon-Min was depicted similarly to Min, but with the additional symbolic attributes of Amon, such as the feather headdress or ram's horns. This composite deity represented the virile and creative force of the universe, especially in relation to the pharaoh, who was seen as the son of the gods and guarantor of the continuity of the cosmic order.
The fusion of Amun and Min highlights the flexibility of the Egyptian pantheon and how gods could be combined to reflect complex aspects of life, nature, and royalty. Thus, Amun-Min became a powerful symbol of rebirth, fertility, and the vigour of the Egyptian state, especially under the leadership of the pharaoh.
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.
Seller's Story
Gallery of Ancient Art - Archeology based in Barcelona with more than fifteen years of experience. Specialized in classical art, Egyptian art, Asian art and pre-Columbian art. It guarantees the authenticity of all its pieces. It participates in the most important art fairs in Spain, such as Feriarte, as well as in fairs abroad, BRAFA, Parcours des Mondes, Cultures Brussels.
All the pieces are sent with an Export Permit issued by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
We are quick to ship via DHL Express or Direct Art Transport.
Translated by Google TranslateSculpture of the God Min.
Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664 - 332 BC.
Bronze.
22 cm height without stand.
Condition: Good condition, all intact, only have reconstruction of the two crown feathers.
Provenance: Private collection, France. Acquired before the 1970's.
Description:
Min was a very ancient deity in Ancient Egypt, worshipped primarily as the god of fertility, male virility, and reproduction. His cult dates back to the Predynastic Period (before 3100 BC) and lasted for millennia. Min was typically depicted as a mummified man, standing with one arm raised holding a whip or mace, and with an erect penis, symbolising his role as the god of life. He was often crowned with two tall feathers and associated with the colour black, a symbol of fertility due to the fertile silt of the Nile.
Min was particularly worshipped in the cities of Coptos (Qift) and Akhmim in Upper Egypt, where festivals were held in his honour. One of the best-known rituals was the procession of the god's statue outside the temple, in which the pharaoh participated as a symbol of his role as sustainer of order and fertility in the country. During these festivities, lettuce, considered an aphrodisiac, was offered, and rituals were performed to ensure abundant harvests.
Over time, especially during the New Kingdom (approximately 1550–1070 BC), Min was syncretised with other important gods. One of the most notable mergers was with Amun, the chief god of Thebes, who was also associated with fertility, creation, and divine power. This merger gave rise to the figure of Amun-Min (also spelled Amon-Min), a manifestation that combined Min's reproductive qualities with Amun's creative, protective, and universal power.
Amon-Min was depicted similarly to Min, but with the additional symbolic attributes of Amon, such as the feather headdress or ram's horns. This composite deity represented the virile and creative force of the universe, especially in relation to the pharaoh, who was seen as the son of the gods and guarantor of the continuity of the cosmic order.
The fusion of Amun and Min highlights the flexibility of the Egyptian pantheon and how gods could be combined to reflect complex aspects of life, nature, and royalty. Thus, Amun-Min became a powerful symbol of rebirth, fertility, and the vigour of the Egyptian state, especially under the leadership of the pharaoh.
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.
Seller's Story
Gallery of Ancient Art - Archeology based in Barcelona with more than fifteen years of experience. Specialized in classical art, Egyptian art, Asian art and pre-Columbian art. It guarantees the authenticity of all its pieces. It participates in the most important art fairs in Spain, such as Feriarte, as well as in fairs abroad, BRAFA, Parcours des Mondes, Cultures Brussels.
All the pieces are sent with an Export Permit issued by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
We are quick to ship via DHL Express or Direct Art Transport.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Egyptian
Century/ Timeframe
Late Period, 664 - 332 BC.
Name of object
Sculpture of the God Min. Late Period, 664 - 332 BC. 16.5 cm height.
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2024
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
France
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Previous owner - year acquired
1970
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
