Description
Cippus - Egyptian magical stela
Dimensions :-
Height - 26.5 cm / 10-1/2 inches
Width - 14.5 cm / 5-3/4 inches
Depth - 5 cm / 2 inches
On offer here is a highly detailed magical stela known as a cippus featuring 'Horus the saviour' as the central figure of a child with sidelock of hair which is the Egyptian way of describing youth in painting and sculpture.
Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone this replica stela has an aged black patina which has been given a light polish.
Background information
Horus holds scorpions, lion, & antelope while standing on a pair of crocodiles to signify his mastery over the animal kingdom and any potential threat they might possess.
Above Horus can be seen the domestic god Bes, a long established protective deity of the homes of the general population and royalty alike. His presence here is to send a clear message that this is a magical, protective device.
A cippus is a term that can mean a stone pole, or slab used as a marker or boundary stone, but in the Egyptian world, it refers to a potent magical stela for the protection of ancient life's many threats.
Water was poured over the stela and collected as 'charged' water, full of healing properties to be rubbed on a wound or bite.
Cippus designs were popular during the late period and the quality varied from crude to intricate. The present cippus is a high quality example that has suffered minor damage in antiquity and this replica preserves all details as was found at the time of excavation.