OPPapers.com

Isis Nursing Horus

Isis Nursing Horus
1. Introduction
As I entered the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, I began viewing the artworks, and it was there that I noticed a beautiful sculpture. Right away it captured my attention. It was a statute of Isis sitting with Horus on her lap. It was called Isis Nursing Horus. First, I liked the subject matter. It was very feminine, but also showed what a strong woman Isis was. There were other sculptures that I saw while viewing which were much more detailed and painted. But this sculpture was my favarite. As Plutarch writes of Isis: "she is both wise and a lover of wisdom; as her name appears to denote that, more than any other, knowing and knowledge belong to her"( Plutarch). The name of sculpture and its magnificence inspired me to choose this sculpture as a subject of my research paper.
2. Vital Statistics
Title: Isis Nursing Horus
Period: Ptolemaic Period – Ptolemaic (332-30 BC)
Dimensions: H:21.4 cm
Properties: Bronze
Where used: Temple MuseumLocation:Rosicrucian Egyptain, San Jose

Figure 1: Isis Nursing Horus (Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium)

3. Subject Matter: Composition, Shape, Space, Surface Texture & Color
This royal portraiture of Isis, a three dimensional volume statuette, is made of bronze. She seats on a throne which is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. Thrones have been the symbol of deities since ancient times and have ever since been associated with royal power. This artwork consists of two intersecting planes: the mother and the child. The goddess, Isis, is wearing an unadorned, tight-fitting robe and is holding Horus's head in her right hand, while offering her left breast with the other.
Exquisitely portrayed, the queen’s shape is very delicate. The young god seems to be welded to her knees. With his broken arms against his body, his open palm on his knees, and legs held together, he lacks the natural softness of a child and he is already...