Horus on the Crocodiles is a motif found on
ancient Egyptian healing amulets from the
Third Intermediate Period until the end of the
Ptolemaic dynasty, as well as on larger
cippi and
stelae. Both the portable amulets and the larger statues are sometimes referred to simply as Horus stelae.[1]
The Horus amulet or stele usually takes the form of a stone slab depicting the
godHorus in the form of a child (
Harpocrates) standing on two
crocodiles and holding other dangerous animals such as
snakes and
scorpions. In older specimens, the head of the protective god
Bes is depicted above the child's figure, protruding from the body of the
cippus, which later became part of the frame. The stelae contain
Egyptian hieroglyphs with mythological and magical texts recited in the treatment of diseases and for protection against stings or bites.[2] This portrayal is thought to follow the myth of Horus triumphing over dangerous animals in the marshes of Khemmis (
Akhmim).[3][4]
Ritner, Robert K., 1989. "Horus on the Crocodiles: a Juncture of Religion and Magic in Late Dynastic Egypt." In Religion and Philosophy in Ancient Egypt, ed. William Kelly Simpson. New Haven: Yale University Press. 103-16.
Kákosy, László; Moussa, Ahmed M. (1998). "A Horus Stela with Meret Goddesses". Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur. 25: 143–159.
JSTOR25152758.
Berlev/Hodjash 1982. O. Berlev/S Hodjash. Egyptian Stelae in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Moscow
Berlandini 2002. J. Berlandini. Un monument magique du "Quatrieme prophete d'Amon" Nakhtefmout. in Y. Koenig. La Magie en Egypte: a la recherche d'une definition. Paris. 83-148
^Gay., Robins (2008). The art of ancient Egypt (Rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 244.
ISBN9780674030657.
OCLC191732570.
^Lacau, Pierre (1921). "Les statues «guérisseuses » dans l'ancienne Égypte". Monuments et mémoires de la Fondation Eugène Piot. 25 (1): 189–210.
doi:
10.3406/piot.1921.1824.