LATE PERIOD TO PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 664-30 B.C.

Striding forward and once holding a staff and scepter, this figure of the goddess Neith wears the Red Crown of the North and is embellished with an incised broad collar, anklets, and bracelets. She stands on an integral rectangular plinth with a dedicatory hieroglyphic inscription along the sides. The increase in dedicatory statues of Neith has been linked to the political rise of the Saite Dynasty, which originated in her cult city of Sais in the Delta, and the goddess’ popularity continued well into the Ptolemaic period (see p. 109 in M. Hill, ed., Gifts for the Gods: Images from Egyptian Temples).

The donation of small metal statuary during and after the Late Period is practiced by a wide section of non-royal individuals, often with the involvement of temple staff (see M. Hill, ed., op. cit., pp. 125-126). The standard format for the type of dedicatory inscriptions found, as here, on the bases of some figures includes the name of the deity, that of the dedicator, and sometimes the name and title of the individual who served as intermediary between man and god (see H. de Meulenaere, “Bronzes Égyptiens de donation,” Bulletin des Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, vol. 61, pp. 63-74 and M. Hill, “Small Divine Statuettes Outfitting Religion,” in A. Masson-Bergoff, ed., Statues in Context: Production, Meaning and (Re)-uses, pp. 35-49). Following the format established by de Meulenaere, the emended translation of the dedicatory text incised on the base of this Neith reads: “[Words spoken by Neith], Lady of Heaven, birth-mother of the gods, who gives life and health for the lord of veneration. [Protection of?] Neith [for] Pa-di-Sokar, son of Khen-ankhet, justified.”