Images

Palm-leaf column from Bubastis (Tell Basta), Temple of Baset; originally from Pi-Ramesses (Qantir), Egypt, 19th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses II (1279-1213 BCE) and 22nd Dynasty, reign of Osorkon II (874-850 BCE). In Ramesses II's reign...

Shrine of Ptolemy VIII & Cleopatra II, originally from the Temple of Isis, Philae, found reused in a Coptic church, Ptolemaic Dynasty, reign of Ptolemy VIII, c. 170-116 BCE. The shrine held a cult statue of the goddess Isis, who is...

This column is from a temple primarily dedicated to he dam god Heryshef of Herakleopolis. Ramesses II is twice shown making offerings to a local form of Osiris. The god wears his typical feather crown but is in a kilt not his usual mummy...

The stela, from a chapel in the royal couple's honors, shows Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II in a deified form. Their staffs are attribnbutes of Egyptian gods, as is the emblem of life (ankh) held by the queen. Yet, unusually, the King wields a...

Two thirds of this stela were lost due to reuse as building material. It documents a royal visit to Elephantine. Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra III, his mother and co-regent, granted privileges to the priests of Khnum, a local ram god. The scene...

Greek texts were incised on this granite stela. It documents a royal visit to Elephantine. Ptolemy IX and Cleopatra III, his mother and co-regent, granted privileges to the priests of Khnum, a local ram god. There are hieroglyphic inscriptions...

A Greek lead curse figurine and miniature coffin from the Kerameikos, Athens. Such figurines were used to curse individuals. The figures usually had their limbs twisted or had pins inserted into them and were buried in graves and wells. The...

A beaten gold amulet stamped with a Greek text invoking the god Apollo. The text reads: INVOCATION TO THE GOD PHOEBUS APOLLO WHO RULES OVER MAN, POURING OUT LIBATIONS TO HIM, THAT HE MAY TAKE UP ARMS AND GO THROUGH THE ENEMY'S ARMY TO...

A 19th century CE painting by John William Waterhouse depicting the sorceress Circe of Homer's Odyssey offering a cup of magic potion to Odysseus. (Oldham Gallery, UK)

A scene from a wooden Egyptian sarcophagus depicting Anubis, the god of mummification and the afterlife. c. 400 BCE. Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam.