resultsfirstpreviousnextendadvancedhome

Tithoes

BrA.1505.jpg

Several Late Period texts mention a lion god named Tutu, son of the goddess Neith of Sais in the Delta. From the Ptolemaic Period onwards his name was hellenized to the form Tithoes. He was among those deities termed 'pantheistic worldgods'; composite images built up from various divine attributes. In this cult relief, Tithoes is shown as a sphinx, wearing a hairstyle which reminds one of both the nemes-headdress and of a wig, which is in turn surmounted by the beginning of a crown or horizontal ram's horns. The uraeus on the front is barely visible. The head is encircled by a halo. The chest is covered with an aegis from which appear, on the left, a ram's head, and on the right, a forepart of a crocodile. The tail of the feline erects itself like a serpent. On the back, he bears a griffin carrying a shield. His paws rest on the body of a snake which erects itself before him. An axe and a harpoon protrude from his rear limbs. The scene is decorated at the top left with a winged disc.

Present location

KMKG - MRAH [07/003] BRUSSELS

Inventory number

A.1505

Dating

ROMAN PERIOD

Archaeological Site

EL-FAIYUM ?

Category

RELIEF

Material

LIMESTONE

Technique

RELIEF

Height

30 cm

Width

42 cm

Depth

12.5 cm

Bibliography