Statuette of the god Osiris. Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664–332 B.C.

Statuette of the god Osiris. Ancient Egypt, Late Period, 664–332 B.C.
Cast bronze.
In good overall condition.
Measurements: 13 cm tall.

Statuettes of Osiris were among the most widespread types of Egyptian bronze production during the Late Period, coinciding with the spread of his cult in temples and sanctuaries throughout the country. Typically conceived as votive offerings, they expressed the hope for regeneration and life after death, embodied by the ruler of the underworld.

The god is depicted standing and wrapped in a mummy-like garment, with his arms crossed over his chest. He carries the heqa staff and the flail, emblems of his authority, and wears the atef crown, consisting of the white crown flanked by feathers and surmounted by the uraeus. The false beard, the wide necklace, and the strict frontal orientation complete a codified iconography that facilitated the immediate identification of the deity.

Usually conceived as votive offerings, these statuettes were dedicated to Osiris, god of death, resurrection, and regeneration, ruler of the underworld, and judge of the dead. His cult expressed hope in the afterlife and eternal renewal. Similar examples are held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée du Louvre, and the Brooklyn Museum.