Thursday 6 April 2017

Urska Furlan continues with the work at Kom el Waset by describing the terracotta horses from the 'House of the Horse', including one 'Persian rider', warrior figures with Greek accoutrements. Such figures occur throughout Egypt from 6th century BC and also in Cyprus and Greece. In Egypt they are found in domestic contexts although they could be ex-votos to martial deities, or used as toys for children. Other finds from the house include: beads, cowrie shell-beads, wedjat-eyes, amulets of god, Bes, Upper Egyptian crown and a striding bronze king or child-god. From such a domestic context the amulets seems to cover a range of uses from protection of women and children, to decoration or individual offerings to gods. Fragments of terracotta naked female figurines also were found here, as well a very male figure. The emphasis on fertility is common in other Late Period-hellenistic sites in Egypt and from one 'room' - perhaps a focus for a domestic cult/ritual room!  The varied material from this houses is a wonderful window into the material culture and 'stuff' of everyday life and perhaps stories, wishes, hopes and aesthetics.

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