Stele of Horus, inscribed with magical spells

Object Details

• Description

  Decoration in high relief.

• Inscriptions

  Has inscription.

• Label

  The central figure on this stele is the child form of the god Horus. He stands on the heads of two crocodiles, which cross each other beneath his feet and face out to the sides. In his left hand he clutches two serpents and a lion by the tail; in his right, two scorpions by the stingers and an oryx by the horns. Every flat surface on the stele is covered with magical hieroglyphic texts consisting of spells which protect against snakes, scorpions, and the other evil forces the god subdues.

  This type of object was often set up in private households, but examples have also been found in tombs, suggesting that their protective powers could also be extended to the deceased.

• Provenance

  To 1908

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1908 [1]

  From 1908 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi, in Cairo, in May, 1908 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I, 64, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ali Arabi (ca. 1840-1932) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Cats, Art, Horus, Scorpion, Magic, Ptolemaic Dynasty (305 - 30 BCE), Stone, Snakes, Crocodiles, Bes, Charles Lang Freer collection, Animals, Ancient Egyptian Art

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes