Object Image

The god Nefertum is depicted, wearing a lotus blossom on his head from which two plumes emerge. On either side are menats, symbols of great female goddesses. In his hand he holds an ostrich feather fan emerging from a palmette. Gold Inlaid wedjat eyes and now-missing vitreous inlays decorated his crow,n and wedjat eyes seem to have ornamented the bracelets on his arms.

Nefertum was the son of the lion-goddess Sakhmet, and is sometimes envisioned as the son of Bastet or certain other great female lion goddesses. In himself he is associated with the opening of the lotus at dawn and is, therefore, associated with the sun and creation. The popularity of his statuary as donations, however, may have...

332-30 B.C.
Cupreous metal, black bronze and precious metal inlay, glass
13.5in
10.175.131
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020

Where you'll find this

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection