Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure on stand, the figure is hollow, and is covered with 'stucco' and painted, the feathers of the headdress and the face is gilded. The figure appears to be covered in a layer of dirt, and much of the paintwork is in reasonable condition, however the paint in some areas (such as the base) has come away in reasonably large flakes. The base is inscribed with a prayer on behalf of Djehuty(?), Scribe (and priest?) at the Temple of Horus, in Edfu.
The appearance of the figure (along with regionality of mother's name) suggests it was made in Akhmim, based on close similarities with other attested examples. Two columns of inscription on the front of the figure, and two columns of inscription on the reverse. The yellow colour of the base represents the sands of Rosetau, a location originally referring to the Memphite necropolis, but later known in the context of any necropolis, and the name for the entrance to the underworld. Sokar was the principal god of this region. Surrounding the base is a band of blue, emphasising the upright Osiris as being surrounded by water, like the Osireion at Abydos. Thus, the base (as a microcosm of a tomb) is the primeval mound rising from the primeval water, seen to have a rejuvenating effect on the deceased.
Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure (including base, figure, and headdress)
Height: 82.5 cm
Length: 46.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1916) by Bide, T.W. Dampier, executor of
red, black, yellow, blue, white, green
Pigments
Wood
Gilded
Accession number: E.2.1916
Primary reference Number: 51810
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Antiquities
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Ptah-Sokar-Osiris box" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/51810 Accessed: 2025-12-06 09:02:32
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/51810
|title=Ptah-Sokar-Osiris box
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 09:02:32|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-51810
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