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Lot Essay
This relief panel depicts two enthroned falcon-headed gods facing each other, each holding a was-sceptre and an ankh-cross, with an offering table between them. The god to the left wears a headdress made of two feathers and the sun disc; a column of text above his head reads 'I am Montu the Victorious'. The other god wears a similar headdress with the addition of ram horns and uraei and is flanked by the recitation 'Come! Horus, who drives back the enemies, the Great One.'
For the “Recitation” formula, cf. H. Stierlin, The World of the Pharaohs, New York, 1978, p. 93, bottom photo, column just to the right of Osiris’ crown (temple of Philae).
The present relief represents an offering scene to Montu and Horus and it would have likely adorned a temple or chapel. The falcon-headed war god Montu was primarily worshipped in Thebes and surrounding areas. The use of sandstone also seems to point to that region as the most famous quarry was at Gebel el-Silsila, south of Thebes, cf. J. Baines & J. Malek, The Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt, 2000., p. 71.
For the “Recitation” formula, cf. H. Stierlin, The World of the Pharaohs, New York, 1978, p. 93, bottom photo, column just to the right of Osiris’ crown (temple of Philae).
The present relief represents an offering scene to Montu and Horus and it would have likely adorned a temple or chapel. The falcon-headed war god Montu was primarily worshipped in Thebes and surrounding areas. The use of sandstone also seems to point to that region as the most famous quarry was at Gebel el-Silsila, south of Thebes, cf. J. Baines & J. Malek, The Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt, 2000., p. 71.