Figure of a rearing cobra with feline head

Art Historical Context

This striking bronze figure of a rearing cobra with a feline head dates to Egypt’s Late Period through the Ptolemaic era (664–30 B.C.), a time when traditional Egyptian religious imagery continued to flourish even as the region came under Persian and later Greek influence. Cast in bronze or a related copper alloy, the small sculpture—measuring just under five inches tall—reflects the era’s widespread production of votive bronzes. These portable works were often dedicated in temples as offerings to deities, blending protective and royal symbolism in compact, durable form. The hybrid creature combines the upright, threatening posture of a cobra—long associated with guardianship—with feline features that evoke swiftness and ferocity. Such composite beings were common in Egyptian art, allowing artisans to express complex divine attributes within a single, expressive object. The smooth modeling and crisp details visible in the casting demonstrate the technical skill of Late Period metalworkers, who favored lost-wax techniques to achieve lively, three-dimensional forms suitable for both temple display and private devotion. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2022 as a gift honoring noted Egyptologist Dr. William Benson Harer Jr., the figure offers visitors a tangible connection to the enduring spiritual traditions of ancient Egypt. Its modest scale belies the rich cultural role these bronzes played in bridging the human and divine realms across centuries of political change.