Het oude Egypte, Grieks-Romeinse periode Terracotta Figuur - 13 cm

Ancient Egypt — Terracotta Head of Horus-Harpocrates — Hellenistic Period — Fayum — 2nd Century BC — 13 cm with stand

Authenticated and certified as ancient.
Former collection of the renowned Egyptologist Roger Khawam.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by Roger Khawam himself.

This rare terracotta fragment depicts Horus-Harpocrates, the child form of the god Horus, identifiable by the characteristic sidelock braid traditionally associated with divine youth in ancient Egyptian iconography. Originating from the Fayum region, the piece dates to the Hellenistic Period, circa 2nd century BC.

The youthful face is rendered with stylized yet expressive features characteristic of Greco-Egyptian coroplastic art. The rounded cheeks, serene expression, and simplified anatomical treatment reflect the blending of Egyptian religious imagery with Hellenistic artistic sensibilities that flourished under the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Executed in pale buff terracotta, the sculpture preserves an attractive archaeological surface with traces of ancient deposits and natural weathering. The fragmentary condition, together with the visible modelling marks and mineral accretions, contributes to the historical authenticity and evocative presence of the object.

Harpokrates occupied a central role within the religious syncretism of Hellenistic Egypt. Revered as a protective child deity associated with rebirth, silence, and regeneration, his image was widely disseminated throughout domestic shrines, temples, and funerary contexts. In the Fayum especially, local workshops produced numerous terracotta representations intended for both devotional and decorative purposes.

This piece offers a compelling testimony to the artistic and spiritual fusion that characterized Greco-Roman Egypt, where traditional Egyptian divinities were reinterpreted through the aesthetic language of the Hellenistic world. Despite its fragmentary nature, the sculpture retains a striking presence and a strong symbolic dimension.

Provenance:
Prestigieuze Morand & Morand veiling, 2025.
Voormalige Roger Khawam Collectie, 1995.
Voormalige Franse privécollectie verzameld tijdens de jaren 1960.

Dimensions:
13 x 6 cm met voetstuk.
Presentatie-voetstuk inbegrepen.

Copy of the Certificate of Authenticity available upon request.