Ancient Pottery Woman with Child, Roman Empire, Alexandria (1845BHK) $395
$395.00
Ht: 6.75” W: 3” D: 2” | FREE SHIPPING!
This Roman Egyptian figurine from Alexandria of a woman holding a young child is a Kourotrophos, a class of god and goddess figures holding infants or children. Referred to as child nurturers, these were revered deities, cult figures and mortals who were also fertility symbols and protectors of the young. Mother and child figures like this are universal and appear known in disparate cultures throughout the world.
Description
Alexandria, Egypt archaeological excavations uncovered Roman-Empire Graeco-Roman earthenware terracotta items that provide insight into their use. Ancient-pottery ancestral objects to satisfy devotees’ wish for home deities for prayer and to provide them favor, they are votive images placed on a home altar or shrine with protective charms to ward off evil in addition to offerings to the gods brought to temples and sanctuaries. (Muratov) This piece is a Kourotrophos, a god or goddess child nurturer deity, cult figure, or deified mortal who was also a fertility symbol and protector of the young. Usually hollow and made using a bivalve mold, the halves were combined after firing, covered with a slip and painted with bright colors. Paints applied after firing, however, rarely survive burial unless in small and faded patches. Likely excavated from an underground site, this is in good condition considering its vast age and pairs well with our ancient Greco-Roman Harpocrates figurine.
Sources
Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, “Overview:, kourotrophos
Additional information
| Weight | 5 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 8 × 8 × 8 in |
| Place of Origin | Ancient Mediterranean |
| Period | Ancient, Roman Empire |
| Date | 1st Century B.C.E. |
| Materials and Technique | Terracotta |
| Dimensions (inches) | Ht: 6.75” W: 3” D: 2” |
| Dimensions (metric) | Ht: 17.15cm W: 7.62cm D: 5.08cm |
| Weight | 8.4oz |
| Condition | Good condition, see description |
| Reference Number | 1845BHK |
| Shipping Box Size |
