ticketsMember | Make a donation

Cult Image of the God Ptah

Third Intermediate Period–Late Period
ca. 945–600 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 899
This statuette depicts Ptah, the chief god of Egypt's capital city Memphis, who is easy to identify by his tight-fitting cap and enveloping shroud. Other iconographic details, such as the royal beard, the large and detailed broad collar, the scepter of merged "was" and "djed" signs, and a platform representing the hieroglyph for universal order, as well as the brilliant blue stone, communicate four important epithets: Lord of Lower Egypt, Master Craftsman, Lord of Truth, and Lord of the Sky.

The superior carving of the god's face, scepter, and jewelry is astonishing for a piece of such diminutive size and hard stone. Its style and quality suggests the sculpture was made in a royal workshop and most likely intended for use as a votive piece in Ptah's large temple at Memphis or in a small shrine dedicated to the god elsewhere in Egypt.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Cult Image of the God Ptah
  • Period: Third Intermediate Period–Late Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 22–early Dynasty 26
  • Date: ca. 945–600 BCE
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Lapis lazuli
  • Dimensions: Figure: H. 5.2 × W. 1.8 cm × D. 1.1 cm (2 1/16 × 11/16 × 7/16 in.); Dais: H. 0.4 × W. 1.0 cm × D. 1.6 cm (3/16 × 3/8 × 5/8 in)
  • Credit Line: Anne and John V. Hansen Egyptian Purchase Fund, 2007
  • Object Number: 2007.24
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman with the Cartouches of Necho II on her Arms, Silver
Statuette of a Royal (?) Woman with the Cartouches of Necho II on her Arms
610–595 B.C.
Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet, cupreous metal
Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet
550–300 B.C.
Statuette of a hippo goddess, probably Taweret, Glassy faience
Statuette of a hippo goddess, probably Taweret
332–30 BCE
Striding Thoth, Faience
Striding Thoth
332–30 BCE
Statuette of Isis with the infant Horus, Faience
Statuette of Isis with the infant Horus
332–30 BCE

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 5

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.