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The 26th Dynasty, also known as the Saite
Period, is traditionally placed by scholars at the
end of the Third Intermediate Period or at the
beginning of the Late Dynastic Period. In either
case, the Saite Period rose from the ashes of a
decentralized Egyptian state that had been
ravaged by foreign occupation. Supported by the
assistance of a powerful family centered in the
Delta town of Sais, the Assyrians finally drove
the Nubians out of Egypt. At the close of this
campaign, Ashurbanipal’s kingdom was at the
height of its power; however, due to civil strife
back east, he was forced to withdraw his forces
from Egypt. Psamtik I, a member of the family
from Sais, seized this opportunity to assert his
authority over the entire Nile Valley and found
his own dynasty, the 26th of Egyptian history.
Known as the Saite Period due to the importance
of the capital city Sais, the 26th Dynasty, like
many before it, sought to emulate the artistic
styles of past pharaohs in order to bolster their
own claims to power and legitimize their
authority.
The ancient Egyptians pioneered the creation of
what a modern would term “multi-media” works
of art, as the wood and bronze components of
this ibis demonstrate. Its body is sculpted from a
single piece of wood, perhaps cedar, to which its
legs and head, both of bronze, were affixed. It is
possible that the original was also provided with
a triangular tail-feather section also in bronze.
The eyes were inlaid, as their hollow sockets
reveal. On the basis of parallels, one might even
suggest that the wooden body was sheathed in
gold leaf.
The ibis represents a hypostasis, or
manifestation, of Thoth, god of wisdom and
inventor of the hieroglyphs. The patron of
scribes and recorder of the judgment rendered
in the Hall of Justice when the soul of the
deceased was weighed against a feather of truth,
Thoth became a very popular deity during the
Late Period. At that time his principle cult center
was located in Middle Egypt at the site of
Ashumnein. Nearby at Tuna el-Gebel was
enormous complex of catacombs. Pious pilgrims
would visit Tuna el-Gebel and dedicated images
of the god Thoth, similar to ours, as well as
mummified ibises in anticipation of prayers to be
granted or in thanks for prayers having been
fulfilled.
Our ibis is a very representative example of the
type. In keeping with all animal sculptures
created in ancient Egypt, this example captures
the essence of the ibis which, for the ancient
Egyptians, was the embodiment of one aspect of
Thoth, the god of wisdom.
Reference:
Richard A. Fazzini, et al., Art for Eternity.
Masterworks from Ancient Egypt (London 1999),
page 140, no. 87.
- (X.0555)
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