 Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 21-25, ca. 1069-656 BCE Bronze with gilt, 25 x 8.3 x 10.5 cm (9 7/8 x 3 1/4 x 4 1/8 in.) Inscription in gold on belt: "Ra Horakhty, chief of the gods" Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, and Robert H. Fleming, Art Institute of Chicago #1894.261 Photo © Joan Ann Lansberry |
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(From _The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt_, by Richard Wilkinson, pages 205-206) "The sun god Re was arguably Egypt's most important deity. Though possibly not as old as the falcon god Horus, Re was an ancient deity who coalesced with many other solar and cosmic gods through time while retaining his own position. At an early date he seems to have merged with the falcon god becoming Re-Horakhty as the morning sun, and with Atum as the evening sun. In the Book of the Dead we actually find Re fused with these and other deities as the composite Re Horakhty-Atum-Horus-Khepri." Notice this statuette shows Ra Horakhty with large human ears! |
