As I was inputting test material into a draft of our DemonBase (my nickname for our
Ancient Egyptian Demon Database), I came across this little guy sitting on the base of a headrest now in the Heidelberg Museum (#290). Any help on whether this intriguing weapon-wielding hybrid has the head of a snake or a vulture, or something else would be appreciated. At this point, your guess is as good as mine!
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Left side of base of Headrest Heidelberg 290 (source:
Schott, S. (1958), 'Eine Kopfstütze des Neuen Reiches', ZÄS, 83, 141-44.)
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The other side of the headrest features a crocodile headed hybrid smiter. For more information on that one, pop on over to
Demonthings!
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| Right side of base of headrest Heidelberg 290. |
To me it looks like a vulture head holding a snake in its mouth, just a bit crudely drawn!
ReplyDeleteIt could be. The snake is certain! Maybe the creator wanted to be ambiguous (or just might be hard to carve in wood!). I am also intrigued by the spots on the kilt and top on the crocodile, but not on the other guy...
ReplyDeleteAfter consulting with the ornithologist John Wyatt today, he suggested it could be a Nile monitor lizard!
ReplyDeleteHe grasps four serpents - one in each hand and two in his mouth similar to Heka holding two forming an X - and the Lotus Head Dress would indicate to me that this is the Hotus Falcon.
ReplyDeleteIf so this is the only image of Horus eating a Serpent which is, actually, a common occurrence in nature...