Egyptian Art the Might of Essay

Moreover, this particular work displays some of the key characteristics of Isis. In addition to her magical powers, Isis represented for Egyptian culture the model of perfection for womanhood. This model, of course, includes the role of the woman as a mother, which is why it is vital that she is breast-feeding her newborn in this sculpture.

It is also key to understand the fact that Horus was one of the principle gods in the Egyptian pantheon. He was their son God and as such represents the ultimate manifestation of a king. The sculpture reinforces this fact by depicting Horus' royal and divine lineage, since he is being nursed by another very well-known Egyptian divinity. Lastly, it is essential to realize that as the quintessential matriarch and womanly figure, Isis was the example that many Egyptian queens were based upon. Thus, it is possible to see other queens wearing a headpiece similar to the one that Isis is adorned with. Also, it is important to realize that as the Egyptian Sun God, Horus was the model for the myriad kings and Pharaohs that preceded him, which is another important aspect of Egyptian culture readily discernible in this sculpture.

The Walters Art Museum displayed this particular object in a way so that contemporary members of society could understand its religious and royal influence at the time of its creation. One of the fundamental ways that it was able to do so was by including an accompanying fact sheet that denoted exactly who the figures were depicted in the work (which the prudent viewer could also discern by analyzing the title), and by explaining their cultural significance for the Egyptians.Other than that, it is worth mentioning that compared to some of the other Egyptian art that was available on the day I went to the museum, there were certainly bigger works and those which attracted more attention. This one was in a modest display case and merely had the accompanying text with it.

Thus, there certainly does appear to be an underlying message about the way the museum chose to display this religious artifact. It was in a part of the museum in which there were other warts of work, not all of which were inherently religious. Therefore, the museum certainly seems to be emphasizing the practicality of religious art. Although there are spiritual and even mystical connotation associated with it, there are also down-to-earth, pragmatic aspects of such artwork. The fact that the figures represented in it are viewed as models of Egyptian manhood and womanhood -- and were the basis for many of the Egyptian kings and queens, suggests that even religious art has a practical place in the world -- which applies to religions in our world….....