Research of Isis Nursing Horus
Isis, the ideal mother and wife worshiped by ancient Egyptians, believed to be the patroness of nature and magic. Isis is often depicted as the mother of Horus. Horus is one of the more significant deities of Egyptian religion. Often represented by a falcon, Horus is said to be the sky, also containing the sun and moon. After visiting the Walters Art Museum, I was most intrigued by the bronze statue of Isis Nursing Horus. I noticed parallels between Isis and Horus statue and the Christian Virgin Mother and child.
This piece is constructed from bronze about fourteen inches high by about six inches wide. While facing the viewer a beautiful seated mother feeds her son seated on her lap. She must of been seated on a throne of sorts which is now missing. In its place instead is a placeholder that the museum gave to Isis to sit on. The statue is very smooth; it is constructed in typical Egyptian style and most likely had inlayed jewelry for eyes and breastplate. Isis is wearing a headdress with a crown reaching towards the heavens. Horus is facing the right, and is depicted as an infant with adult proportions, which reminded me of the Christian depictions of Christ with adult proportions as an infant as well.
During the later periods in Egypt, artists made many bronze statues of their gods and goddesses. When they had pilgrimages to holy sites, they would give these statues away as tribute. The Egyptians made thousands of them and have been found in concealed areas across the land. Isis Nursing Horus statues have only appeared during the last millennium BC. However, It is hard to pin a date on a lot of these statues as well as their geographical prevalence. Isis has always been viewed as the “universal mother,” until the Catholic religion swooped in and gave Isis a makeover, and called her the Virgin Mary.
The statue is from the late period, 26th dynasty, 664-525 B.C and seems to have strong parallels between the...