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This pendant shows an ancient Egyptian creation myth. The fragrant blossom of the blue lotus rests on the surface of the water; it opens its petals as the sun rises and closes them again at nightfall. The sun god emerged from the flower as the first living being. Here, the figure appears to be on top of a lotus blossom, but we are meant to understand that he is inside the flower. The artist shows the god in the image of a king but as a child, seated with knees drawn up as in a hieroglyph, and wearing a braided sidelock. The tiny uraeus on his brow proclaims him as royalty, further illustrating the link between the king and the young sun god.
View: Obverse
Pendant on a chain
Egyptian
Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 21–24
1070–712 B.C.
Medium/Technique
Gold, glass inlays
Dimensions
Height x Width of pendant 7.1 x 2.5 cm (2 13/16 x 1 in.). Length chain (doubled) 30 cm (11 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Horace L. Mayer
Accession Number68.836
CollectionsJewelry, Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Pendants
This pendant shows an ancient Egyptian creation myth. The fragrant blossom of the blue lotus rests on the surface of the water; it opens its petals as the sun rises and closes them again at nightfall. The sun god emerged from the flower as the first living being. Here, the figure appears to be on top of a lotus blossom, but we are meant to understand that he is inside the flower. The artist shows the god in the image of a king but as a child, seated with knees drawn up as in a hieroglyph, and wearing a braided sidelock. The tiny uraeus on his brow proclaims him as royalty, further illustrating the link between the king and the young sun god.
DescriptionAccording to Egyptian mythology, the young sun god was borne up out of the primordial waters of chaos inside a blue lotus flower, which opened to reveal him on the first morning. The artist of this fine pendant characterized the god's tender age with the sidelock of youth. He is seated with knees drawn up as in a hieroglyph. The tiny uraeus on his brow proclaims him as royalty, illustrating the link between the king and the young sun god. Although the figure appears to be on top of a lotus blossom, we are meant to understand him as being inside the flower, in the same way as the contents of an open bowl in Egyptian art can be drawn standing up on its edge. Although the jewel was previously dated to the reign of Ramesses II, the closest parallels date to the Third Intermediate Period, when the motif of child god on the lotus enjoyed a great vogue.
ProvenanceSaid to be from Abu Gurob. Said to have belonged to Ludwig Borchardt (b. 1863 - d. 1938), Berlin and Paris [see note 1]. 1964, sold by Spink and Sons, London, to Horace L. Mayer (b. 1899 - d. 1968), Williamstown, MA [see note 2]; 1968, to his widow, Florence Ellen Mayer, Williamstown; 1968, year-end gift of Mrs. Horace L. Mayer to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 27, 1968)
NOTES:
[1] According to Spink and Sons. [2] First lent to the MFA in 1964.
NOTES:
[1] According to Spink and Sons. [2] First lent to the MFA in 1964.