Magical Stela (Cippus of Horus)
Unknown Artist
360–343 B.C.
Medium
Meta-Greywacke
Dimensions
Overall H. 83.5 cm (32 7/8 in.); W. 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in.); D. 7.2 cm (2 13/16 in.); Base: H. 14.4 cm ( 5 11/16 in.); W. 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in.); D. 14.4 cm (5 11/16 in.)
Classification
Cippus, Cippus of Horus; Metternich
Period
Late Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1950
Accession Number
50.85
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This Magical Stela, also known as a Cippus of Horus, dates to Egypt’s Late Period during Dynasty 30 (360–343 B.C.). Carved from durable meta-greywacke, the tall, slender slab measures just over 83 centimeters in height and features intricate hiers alongside images of the Horus, Isis and Bes. Such stelae were created as protective objects, their surfaces covered with spells and divine figures meant to channel divine power. In ancient Egyptian belief, these magical stelae served both practical and devotional purposes, often placed in homes or temples to safeguard against illness and harmful for...