A lion headed goddess, possibly Wadjet

Saite Period–Late Period

ca. 7th–4th century B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130

Numerous deities took the form of lion-headed goddesses in Egypt, including Sakhmet, Wadjet, and Bastet. In this guise, these goddesses were fierce protective deities, but ones who could also bring about destruction, pestilence, and plague. This figure wears the sun disk, which may allude to her role as the sun god Re's daughter and eye, but many goddesses share this aspect. Without an inscription or context, it is difficult to assign a precise identity to this figure.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: A lion headed goddess, possibly Wadjet
Period: Saite Period–Late Period
Date: ca. 7th–4th century B.C.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Copper alloy
Dimensions: H. 7.8 × W. 1.8 × D. 2 cm (3 1/16 × 11/16 × 13/16 in.)
Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
Object Number: 2021.41.21
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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