ticketsMember | Make a donation

Falcon statue serving as a sarcophagus for a sacred animal

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
664–30 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 134
This bronze falcon is hollow. X-rays have revealed animal bones on the interior, presumably those of a falcon, and an opening beneath the tail through which the animal body had been inserted. The opening is closed with a close-fitting bronze plate.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Falcon statue serving as a sarcophagus for a sacred animal
  • Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
  • Date: 664–30 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Cupreous metal, animal remains
  • Dimensions: L. 23.2 cm (9 1/8 in.); W. 3.3 cm (1 5/16 in.); H. 18.1 cm (7 1/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1925
  • Object Number: 25.2.11
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 2604. Falcon, Part 1

2604. Falcon, Part 1

Investigations: Art, Conservation, and Science

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sarcophagus of Djedhor, Limestone
Sarcophagus of Djedhor
200–150 B.C.
Sarcophagus of Harkhebit, Greywacke
Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
595–526 B.C.
Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet, cupreous metal
Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet
550–300 B.C.
Statuette of Amun, Gold
Statuette of Amun
ca. 945–712 BCE
Torso of a High General, Metagraywacke
Torso of a High General
4th century B.C.

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.