Falcon-Headed Deity and Lion-Headed Deity Seated on Plinth

A falcon-headed deity and a lion-headed deity are side-by-side on a flat rectangular plinth. Both figures assume identical squatting positions typical of temple frieze iconography. The small scale and lack of inscription make identification of the deities difficult. The falcon-headed god on the proper right side probably represents Horus, who was associated with the falcon from the earliest periods of Egyptian history. The Double Crown with a ureaus and large spiral reinforce this identification, as Horus was intimately connected to the Egyptian king, who was perceived during his lifetime as the incarnation of Horus. His companion, who wears a sun disc with a uraeus, may be one of the fierce lioness goddesses, perhaps Sakhmet or Wadjet. The plinth is broken on three of its corners, but two corners preserve traces of holes for attachment to a larger piece. Marian Feldman