Lot 33
33
AN EGYPTIAN LIMESTONE RELIEF FRAGMENT
AN EGYPTIAN LIMESTONE RELIEF FRAGMENT

LATE PERIOD, 26TH DYNASTY, 664-525 B.C.

Details
AN EGYPTIAN LIMESTONE RELIEF FRAGMENT
LATE PERIOD, 26TH DYNASTY, 664-525 B.C.
With eight columns of hieroglyphs in sunk relief, the text naming Nes-Hor and a spell to ward off the Nau serpent, reading: “This [Hereditary Noble and] Local Prince Nes-Hor, Justified...bitten, smitten(?) by the n[aw-snake(?)]...(or, bitten, smitten(?)), it is the n[aw-snake(?) who]...bite [this] Hereditary Noble and Local Prince Nes-[Hor, Justified]...his [Hereditary Noble and] Local Prince Nes-Hor, Justified...this [Hereditary Noble and] Local Prince Nes-Hor, Justified...he/his [this] Hereditary Noble and Local Prince Nes-Hor, [Justified]...every...[this] Hereditary Noble and Local Prince Nes-Hor, [Justified]...Turn back(?), naw-snake (or, May the naw-snake be turned away(?))"
34 in. (86.4 cm.) long
Provenance
with Joseph Khawam & Co., Cairo.
Acquired by the current owner, London, 1952; thence by descent.

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Lot Essay

Texts to ward off or to protect from snakes were common beginning in the 5th Dynasty and can be found within the Pyramid Texts. This relief, with its usage of this older protection spell is an example of the archaizing tendency in Egyptian art popular during the Late Period. For the reuse of serpent protection texts during this time period, see R.B. Hussein in "Recontextualized--The Pyramid Texts 'Serpent Spells' in the Saite Contexts," in Études et Travaux, vol. 26.

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