Fragmentary Head of an Oryx

Fragmentary Head of an Oryx

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This three-dimensional fragment in bright turquoise blue faience depicts an antelope. The fact that this animal has horns that are parallel and straight and black facial markings, suggests it is an oryx rather than a gazelle. In Egypt the oryx was often referred to in a negative way, as it was considered the "enemy of Re" and seen as a manifestation of Seth. Antelopes were depicted on various objects, notably in three-dimensions as protomes on scepters/wands and diadems. It is also possible that this small oryx head adorned a faience vessel.

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.