Rare Egyptian Amun-Ra Two-Headed Ram Sculpture

Item Details

An Egyptian carved wooden sculpture depicting a two-headed ram Amun-Ra deity. The four-headed ram representation of Egyptian diety Amun-Ra is a common figure on ancient Egyptian hypocephali—hieroglyphic linen or papyrus discs placed beneath the heads of the dead and believed to protect the body in the afterlife. The two-headed representation of Amun-Ra, however, is far less common. Perhaps most famously, the two-headed Amun-Ra figure was represented in the controversial hypocephalus owned by Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saints movement, and subsequently represented in Smith’s Book of Abraham. Although images of the two-headed Amun-Re are said to have been discovered in ancient Egyptian remains, the debate over proper representation of this deity in ram form continues. This particular hand carved wooden sculpture depicts a two-headed ram, conjoined by the hind. It is hand painted in black and gold tones and attached to a rectangular wooden plinth. Unmarked.

Dimensions

Item #

16SWF020-288