Late to Ptolemaic Period, circa 600 to 200 BC,
A choice and rare surviving painted good size wood funerary stele with colorful vignettes, hieroglyphic inscription with excellent provenance and in good condition. The decedent to either die in flowing robes , hands in a prayer gesture, each before a standing deity, Osiris and Re. Religious prayer accompanies in decorative top panel.
Hieroglyphic translation: Under the winged sun disk at top (twice, once in each direction): He of Behdet, the great god, lord of heaven, of variegated plumage.’
Above the woman at left: ‘The Osiris, the lady of the house Hetepamun, true of voice, daughter of the prophet of Montu, lord of Thebes, residing in Medamud, Rer.’ Above the falcon-headed god: ‘Re.’
Above the god wearing a tall white crown: ‘Atum, lord of Heliopolis.’ Above the woman at right: ‘The Osiris Hetepamun, true of voice, daughter of the prophet of Montu, lord of Thebes, residing in Medamud, Rer, true of voice.’
Main text at bottom, left half: ‘An offering that the king gives to Re-Horakhy, he of the sky, the great god, lord of heaven, that he may (in turn) give invocation offerings of bread, beer, oxen, fowl, alabaster, linen, incense, unguent, offerings, and all provisions for the spirit of the Osiris Hetepamun, true of voice, daughter of the prophet of Montu, lord of Thebes, residing [in Medamud …]’
Main text at bottom, right half: ‘An offering that the king gives to Atum, lord of the Two Lands, he of Heliopolis, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, the great god residing in the mound, that he may (in turn) give all that goes forth from upon the offering table for the spirit of the Osiris, lady of the house, Hetepamun, true of voice, daughter of the prophet of Montu, lord of Thebes, residing in Medamud, Rer […]’
A great number of votive stelae survive from the archaeological record. Funerary stelae like this were dedicated to the gods, and were presented to temples and sanctuaries by individuals to express their personal devotion. They were also part of small altars erected in private homes and used for good favor in the afterlife and in a funerary context.
Size:13-1/4 inches H. x 9-3/4 inches W. x approx. 1 inch D.
Condition: Good; Original as seen. Repaired from two pieces down center with the vertical crack visible and minor losses to bird atop as well as edges. Total loss to bottom register of hieroglyphics and loss to ½ of the next lower registers of hieroglyphics. Bound in a buckram leather slip case,
Ex ca. 1950s from a noted manuscript collector, Dr Otto O. Fischer
Full Provenance: Ex Mr. Fleur M. R. Sabatier, Sold 1890 Drouot sale, Paris, lot 87. Ex Fredrick George Hilton Price Collection, London 1897, published as lot no. 2024 in catalog with line drawing; Ex Dr. Otto O. Fisher, (1880-1961) Detroit MI ca. 1950s acquisition, a noted manuscript and rare book collector. Upon Dr. Fishers death, his collection went to his daughter; Dr. Evelyn Josephine Fisher, M.D. (1941-2020). When Dr. E. Fisher passed away in December 2020, these artifacts were bequeathed to her nephew, NG, Richmond VA, the present owner.
