Introduction

In 2011, the National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) in Leiden and the Museo Civico Archeologico in Bologna signed a five-year agreement with the objective of sharing research, exchanging loans of objects, and jointly organising workshops, conferences and exhibitions.52 As part of this agreement, the present author was invited to come to Bologna in order to present a number of public lectures.53 One of these visits, in October 2011, also provided the opportunity for a study of the Bologna collection of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures, a subject which still had my interest in spite of a lapse of almost thirty years since my first research on this 7 type of objects. Other obligations prevented me from publishing the results of my stay in Bologna before present. However, this delay has had the positive effect that it allows me to profit from the recent literature, so that now I find myself in quite a different position than when I first started my research on the Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues in 1976. Before focussing on the Bologna collection, I shall therefore present a brief update of the ongoing study of this class of statues in general.

History of Research on Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statues

Almost 45 years ago, I started my Egyptological career with the publication of an article entitled “Papyrus-Sheaths and Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statues”, which was based on my master’s thesis at Leiden University.54 This study deals with a characteristic kind of wooden Osiris statues which can be found in private burials ranging in date between the late New Kingdom and the end of the Ptolemaic Period. Most statues are characterised by the presence of a cavity in the statue’s body or its base, though solid figures occur as well. For the hollow figures, two distinct main groups can be distinguished: an earlier one which often contains a rolled funerary papyrus, and a later type where the cavity holds a miniature corn-mummy containing grains of barley. This distinction was already well known to the earliest explorers of such tombs, who were always looking for valuable papyri in order to sell them for a good price on the art market. In fact, the papyri were all that interested these 8 explorers, who did not care much for the statues themselves. Champollion appears to have been the first to introduce the term “papyrus-sheaths” (étuis aux manuscrits funéraires) for the earlier group,55 though this term never became very popular and most authors stick to “hollow Osiris statues” or similar. The solid statues, and the later ones containing a corn-mummy, are usually referred to as Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures, another name coined by Champollion on the basis of their iconography and inscriptions.56

After the pioneer age of Egyptology, even this meagre interest in these statues rather dwindled. Even when no less than 77 of them were discovered in the Deir el-Bahri cachette of the priests (1891), these items never received more than just a passing reference in the reports.57 Handbooks of funerary archaeology hardly went into any more detail,58 and museums rarely bothered to publish their full collections.59 Thus, my own comparative study was the first of its kind, combining a chronological, typological and iconographical study with a full analysis of the inscriptions occurring on these statues and a study of their provenance and archaeological context. Although it is marked by a number of methodological flaws and beginner’s mistakes, I am happy to say it raised new interest in these intriguing objects and is still being used as a starting point by all colleagues working on these objects.

My original article proposed a classification consisting of four major types: I – black-varnished statues; II – polychrome Osiris statues; III – Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues with green face; and IV – Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues with gilded face (sometimes painted white or yellow in imitation of gilding). Types I, II, and IV were each found to comprise a number of subtypes, whereas type III appeared to be more homogeneous. There is a considerable number of statues which do not fit into one of these main types, which I relegated to a “miscellaneous class” instead. I regarded Types I and II as belonging to the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period, and datable between roughly 1300 and 700 BC; these items I interpreted as statues of Osiris-Khentimentet on the basis of epigraphic evidence. For Types III and IV, I proposed a Late Period to Ptolemaic date instead, and identified them as depictions of the god of resurrection Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, again on the basis of the texts occurring on the statues themselves. My initial article was later integrated into my dissertation, which I defended at Leiden University on 22 February 1984.60

In 1991, David Aston published a brief article on two Osiris figures of divergent types,61 one a Ramesses II shabti later converted to a black-varnished Osiris figure, the other a white figure with a green face. Since the latter did not fit in my original classification, he proposed to classify this object, which has a number of close parallels, as a fifth type, datable to c. 750–675 BC on epigraphic evidence. This led Aston to a very convincing revision of the typology for Third Intermediate Period figures. He argues that Type II (polychrome Osiris figures with hedjet or atef crown) occurred between 1300 and 1000 BC, and regards my Type IC as a black-varnished alternative datable between 1025 and 925 BC. All these figures have squat bodies holding a rolled papyrus. From 975 BC onwards, some black-varnished figures (my Types IA and IB) already wore feather-crowns (shuty) and had solid and therefore slimmer bodies, occasionally still holding a papyrus in a cavity in the base. These figures are not attested after c. 900 BC,62 although they may well continue until the introduction of the new Types III and IV, of which they are the precursors. This is also suggested by the new transitional Type V, likewise consisting of slim figures with feather crowns, but lacking a cavity in the trunk or base. The transition to the proper Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures (usually holding corn-mummies in their trunk or base) therefore seems to take place around 750–700 BC, with Types III and IVB with their red bodies overlapping with Type V and occurring until about 600 BC. Aston’s revised typology and chronology are also included in his handbook on burial assemblages of the Third Intermediate Period, which is the published version of his PhD research.63 We may summarize these findings in the following typological schedule (see Table II).

In 2012, Carlo Rindi Nuzzolo presented a thesis at Pisa University on Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues.64 This was based on a detailed study of 33 of the 58 figures now in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, Sezione “Museo Egizio”,65 as well as on a personal inspection of numerous other museum collections. The catalogue proper is preceded by a 9 general introduction to the subject, including a sketch of the history of research on these statues, a discussion on the acquisition of the Florence statues, and an excursus on a statue belonging to an early Ptolemaic priest of Amun at Karnak. While generally accepting my initial typology, chronology, and interpretation of these statues, Rindi adds a useful typology of bead-net patterns and cavities, rightly criticises my subtype IVA (too heterogeneous), tries to correct the date of Type IVB,66 adds a new subtype IVG (black body with single column of inscription), distinguishes useful variants within the various subtypes, etc. Although the thesis itself is rather disfigured by its careless language, spelling, and translations of the inscriptions, Rindi later elaborated on his findings in a number of well-presented articles.67 Here he digresses on the geographical dimension of these statues, distinguishing characteristic groups from Akhmim and Middle Egypt (the latter classified as Type VI),68 and adds further subtypes.

Altogether, these studies have now incited other scholars to give more attention to these hitherto rather neglected objects and integrate them in other research projects.69 We can only hope that these communal efforts will help to elucidate some of the more problematic aspects of this particular kind of Osiris figures. The present study of the Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures in Bologna may be another contribution towards this goal.

The Bologna Collection of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statues: Classification and Catalogue

The earliest catalogue of the Bologna Egyptian collection was compiled in 1895 by the Czech Giovanni Kminek-Szedlo, lecturer at Bologna University and inspector of the museum.70 Here we find brief descriptions of the wooden Osiris statues under catalogue numbers EG 326–346.71 However, it should be noted that EG 342 is not a Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statue but a corn-mummy,72 whereas EG 346 with its height of 14 cm cannot be a regular Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statue. On the other hand, there is a double number EG 341, now registered as EG 341 ½, and EG 2076 and EG 2078 were ranged with the category of shabtis but seem to be Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures as well.73 This adds up to 22 items,74 the third largest collection of such statues in Italy after Florence (58) and Turin (31).75 The Florence items were published by Botti and Rindi,76 some of the Turin ones can be found on the internet database of the museum.77 Thus, a proper analysis of the Bologna specimens may be a useful addition.

Unfortunately, due to their acquisition from former private collections, information about the original provenance or archaeological context of these statues is not always available.78 Nizzoli states that his collection of wooden figures sold to the grand Duke of Tuscany in 1824 came from his explorations 10 in Menfi.79 As for the Bologna collection, as Daniela Picchi writes above, we know that his wife Amalia Sola conducted excavations in Saqqara in the spring of 1825, but Nizzoli may well have bought or exchanged items during his long stay in Cairo and Alexandria.

The catalogue numbers used in the following are those of Kminek-Szedlo, which correspond to the current inventory of the museum. He mentions the previous owner of these statues at the end of his entries, and in general our archive research has corroborated this attribution.

Another problem with the Bologna statues is their state of preservation. Many have lost their original feather crowns or bases, and the painted decoration has often fallen off, thereby robbing us of a lot of typological and epigraphical information. This is actually rather common with this particular class of statues, which often suffered from dampness already in the subterranean tombs where they were originally placed on the rock floor next to the coffin of their owner.

In spite of these shortcomings, this corpus of statues still provides some useful data. Of the 22 items, 11 can still be identified as belonging to well-known types. The oldest one seems to be EG 326, a typical example of Type IID datable between 1300 and 1000 BC. This is followed in age by EG 337, belonging to Type IB and therefore to be dated between 975 and 900 BC. Catalogue numbers EG 332, EG 338, and EG 2076, with their white bodies, green faces (not clear on EG 332), and lack of back-pillars, appear to conform to Aston’s Type V and accordingly should be dated between 750 and 600 BC. Catalogue numbers EG 327, EG 330, EG 334, EG 340, EG 343, and EG 345 seem to belong to Type IV because of their red bodies, in combination with gilded faces and various other iconographical details. These must date to the Late or Ptolemaic Periods, or c. 700–30 BC.

No less than eight statues show details not compatible with any of the usual types (EG 328–329, EG 331, EG 335–336, EG 339, EG 341 and EG 2078). Some of these divergent types are highly original, such as EG 341 (where the feather crown is cut from the same piece of wood as the rest of the figure) and EG 336, which is carved in limestone. Others, such as EG 328 and EG 335 with their gilt masks, or EG 333 with its red face and black body, are not so different from the usual Type IV specimens. On the remaining three figures (EG 333, EG 341 ½ and EG 344) the coat of paint is too far decayed to allow a typological assessment. All of them show the proportions of the Late to Ptolemaic Periods.

A special interest of the Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues are of course the texts inscribed on them. These may specify the identity of the original owner of the statues in question. On the Bologna statues we find the following names and titles:

All names are characteristic of the Late or Ptolemaic Periods, but only the individuals of EG 334 have been recognised from other sources, namely, the tomb of Ankhhor at Thebes (TT 414). The names on EG 339 with their reference to the god Min might indicate a provenance of this statue from the Akhmim area, but for the other items we lack such a clear indication. Catalogue numbers EG 326 and EG 337 seem to represent common Theban types.

Several types of inscriptions may occur.80 Rather common are texts starting with ḏd mdw ꞽn “recitation by …”, followed by the name of the god represented: Osiris-Khenty-imentet (EG 326, EG 328, EG 336, EG 2076) or simply Osiris (EG 338). An alternative is the offering formula ḥtp dꞽ nsw “an offering which the King gives…”, occurring on so many other funerary items (EG 327, EG 329) and with the gods Osiris-Khenty-imentet and Ptah-Sokar-Osiris being mentioned as the receivers of the offering in question. Either formula may end with the name of the statue-owner as the final party benefiting from the ritual (EG 328–329, EG 336, EG 338–339), or the owner’s name may occur without any preceding formula 11 (EG 331). Finally, a text very characteristic for this particular type of funerary statues is a specific hymn, which starts with the words ꞽnḏ ḥr.k “Hail to you, …” and addresses the syncretistic god of resurrection represented by the statue.81 In the Bologna collection it only occurs on EG 327 and EG 334.

Catalogue

Note: all catalogue entries are presented here in a format corresponding to a registration sheet for Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues first conceived by me in the 1970s. All photographs were made for the purpose of the present article by Federico Taverni (Museo Egizio, Turin), whom we thank for his excellent work. Daniela Picchi checked all the museum numbers and provided the full bibliography.

EG 326 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2120; formerly Nizzoli 1832)

TYPE IID Dimensions: h. 76.5 (no base), w. 21.5, d. 14.5 cm. Crown: atef white, feathers blue with yellow borders, outlined in red, sun red. Wig: – Face: green with details in black and white, large ears, folds in neck. Beard: – Collar: blue with yellow borders, the lower with black drops, no mankhet. Hands: arms bent, fists held opposite, green with black details, holding crook (in left hand) and flail (in right hand). Sceptres and bracelets yellow with details in red and blue. Body: upper body with red cape, rosettes in blue and white. Blue belt (behind) with two pendant streamers (in front), red with blue dots and blue-black lower ends. Lower body white. Back pillar: – Plinth: – Base: lost (present base is modern). Traces of yellow-painted plaster are visible on the back. Cavity: body was cut open vertically through back of neck (Rindi’s Type 2β: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 17), hollowed out, and closed by means of three dowels at neck and upper arms. Tubular lower end held closed by inserting it in base. Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, black hieroglyphs on yellow, framed in red. Text: ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr, nb nḥḥ, ḫnty Ꞽmntt, Wnn-nfr, ḥqꜣ psḏt, nṯr ꜥꜣ, nb mꜣꜥt. Translation: Recitation by Osiris, lord of perpetuity, foremost of the West, Onnophris, ruler of the Ennead, great god, lord of truth. Possibly once continued with owner’s name on top of base (now lost). Comments: for the details, cf. the depiction of a djed pillar in the tomb of Kynebu (TT 113, temp. Ramesses VIII); see Bács and Parkinson, EA 39 (2011), pp. 42–43. The last sign of the inscription seems to be Sign-list Aa11 rather than N1 (as read by Kminek-Szedlo). Provenance: Thebes (?). Date: c. 1200–1100 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2120; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, no. 109; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 36, no. 326; Pernigotti, in Pernigotti (ed.), Aegyptiaca Bononiensia, 1990, p. 82; Giovetti and Picchi (eds.), Egypt Millenary Splendour, 2016, p. 565, no. VII.40.

12 EG 327 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2121; formerly Nizzoli 1831)

TYPE IVC Dimensions: h. 74.5, w. 12.6, base l. 38.5 cm. Crown: shuty crown with black ram’s horns, feathers striated blue with red dots on yellow, framed in black, sun disk red outline on yellow, reverse red. Wig: black with outline in white and red, white fillet. Face: gold, details in black and white. Beard: – Collar: green and white curved bands between lappets of wig, outlined in black; naos-shaped pectoral outlined in black on a whitish background; falcon collar with dotted bands in green and blue on whitish background, outlined in black, lower edge with blue and green drops. Falcon’s heads in blue and white with yellow solar disk, finely detailed in black. Hands: – Body: red, abdomen with starry sky sign and winged sun disk in blue and black, the latter on white. Back pillar: blue. Plinth: blue. Base: top with central blue band with 9 bows, framed 13 in black-red-black on white; sides with serekh pattern in blue, red, and green on white. Cavity: statue opens as bivalve coffin (Rindi’s Type 2α: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 18). Contents: miniature mummy, wrapped in linen (?) and covered in resin (scanned in 2024: contents unclear). Inscriptions: 4 columns on front, 1 on back pillar, black hieroglyphs on whitish background (back pillar blue on whitish), framed in black. Text: (front 1) p[sḏ.]f … Sk[r?] Sꜣḥ … rmn[.f?] nb tꜣwy (2) ꞽnḏ ḥr.k, ꞽwꜥw pr m nṯr pf, nḫḫ pr m Ꞽtm, ḏt nṯr ꞽy.ty m wḥm, ḥḳꜣ (3) pr ꞽm.f. psḏ.f m Nwt m Sꜣḥ, šmšw.f ꞽḫmw-sk (?) (4) ḥtp dꞽ nsw Wsꞽr, ḫnty ꞽmntt, nṯr [ꜥꜣ], nb ꜣb[ḏw] … (back) ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr [blank] Sꜣḥ sk (?) nb.s … psḏ.f … nb.s. Translation: (front 1) he is shining … Sokar … Orion … (he) supports the lord of the Two Lands … (2) Hail to you, heir who proceeded from this god, spittle which proceeded from Atum, divine body that came again, ruler (3) who proceeded from it, he is shining in the sky as Orion, his followers are the unwearying stars … (4) An offering which the King gives (to) Osiris, foremost of the West, (great) god, lord of Aby[dos …]. (back) Recitation by the Osiris [blank], … Orion … wearying … its master, he is shining … its master. Comments: corrupt version of offering formula and the hymn, with space left blank for insertion of owner’s name. The latter phenomenon is well-known for other funerary items but not for Ptah-Sokar-Osiris statues. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Nizzoli, Catalogo, 1827, p. 13, no. II.20; [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2121; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, no. 110; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 36, no. 327.

14 EG 328 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2122)

TYPE VAR. Dimensions: h. 73, w. 17.5, d. 9.6, base l. 35 cm. Crown: shuty crown with black ram’s horns, feathers striated blue and outlined in black on whitish background (tips broken off vertically), sun disk flaked off, reverse green. Wig: blue. Face: gold with details in black. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: greenish-blue horizontal bands between lappets of wig; falcon collar with four bands, greenish-blue on white, the lower with green drops, falcon’s heads finely detailed in black. Hands: – Body: net pattern, green on white (Rindi’s net design I: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 18). Back pillar: present. Plinth: shallow, green. Base: natural wood colour. Cavity: casket with sliding lid, Rindi’s Type 1β: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 17). Contents: miniature mummy, wrapped in linen and covered in resin (scanned in 2024: contents unclear). Inscriptions: 2 columns on back pillar, black hieroglyphs on whitish-yellow background. Text: (1) ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr, ḫnty [ꞽmntt, nṯr ꜥꜣ,] nb ꜣb[ḏw?] … wr n Wsꞽr ꞽt-nṯr … (2) … Nḫt-ḏḥwty, zꜣ Ḥr-bꜣw-m-mꜣꜥt (?). Translation: (1) Recitation by Osiris, fore[most of the West, great god,] lord of Ab[ydos, …] great to the Osiris, god’s father (?) (2) … Nakhtdjehuty, son of (?) Horbauemma‘at (?). Comments: For the name, see PN I, 211.22; the patronymicum is very doubtful. Kminek-Szedlo gives the owner’s name written on the back pillar as “Psamtik, born to Seneb-tua-hor”, which cannot be recognized in the extant traces. Therefore Yoyotte’s proposal to connect this person with Psamtik son of Sebarekhy (see below, bibliography) must remain unconfirmed. According to Kminek-Szedlo, the casket in the base contained two small rolls of pitch-covered papyrus. Provenance: unknown.Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2122; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, no. 111; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, pp. 36–37, no. 328. Cf. Yoyotte, BSFE 60 (1971), p. 16 with nos. 21 and 34; Jansen-Winkeln, Inschriften der Spätzeit, 2014, p. 932; Zanasi (ed.), Storie d’Egitto, 2019, inv. no. S.N. 19.

15 EG 329 (ex-coll. Palagi nos. 2123 and 2194 (crown); formerly Nizzoli 1832?)

TYPE VAR. Dimensions: h. 52.3, w. 10.8, base l. 27.6 cm. Crown: shuty crown with yellow ram’s horns, feathers striated green on white, sun disk green, reverse yellow. Wig: blue. Face: yellow with details in black and white. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: falcon collar with alternating bands of red and green, lower edge with dots in black, falcon’s heads with blue wigs. Hands: – Body: white. Back pillar: absent, but plain red band painted over back. Plinth: blue. Base: white, with red-blue-red bands around sides. Cavity: casket with rectangular lid (flaked off, no dowels, Rindi’s Type 1β: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 17). Contents: fragments of linen and grains of barley, doubtless remains of decayed corn-mummy. Inscriptions: 1 column on front, black hieroglyphs on white, framed in red. Text: ḥtp dꞽ nsw Ptḥ-Skr-Wsꞽr, nṯr ꜥꜣ, nb R-sṯꜣw, dꞽ.f prt-ḫrw (m) t ḥnqt kꜣw ꜣpdw (n) ꞽmꜣḫw ḫr Wsꞽr, ꞽt-nṯr Snb.f. Translation: An offering which the King gives (to) Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, great god, lord of Rosetau, may he give an invocation offering consisting of bread and beer, beef and fowl (to) the honoured one with Osiris, the god’s father Senbef. Comments: For the name, see PN I, 314.5. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 600–300 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2123 and presumably no. 2194; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, no. 112 and p. 14, no. 183; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 37, no. 329; Pernigotti, in Pernigotti (ed.), Aegyptiaca Bononiensia, 1990, p. 82.

16 EG 330 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2126)

TYPE IVC Dimensions: h. 54.5 (no crown or base, tenon not visible), w. 12.8, d. 9.4 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: blue, gold fillet. Face: gold (largely flaked off). Beard: blue on gold, fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: red with blue dots (of bead net). Back pillar: yellow. Plinth: yellow on upper face. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: statue opens as bivalve coffin (2 dowels at head, 2 at plinth, Rindi’s Type 2α: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 18). Contents: – Inscriptions: remains of column(s) on front, framed in white and blue. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2126; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, no. 115; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 37, no. 330.

17 EG 331 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2124; formerly Nizzoli 1832?)

TYPE VAR. Dimensions: h. 42 (no feathers), w. 17, base l. 32.5 cm. Crown: shuty crown with black ram’s horns, feathers lost (originally inserted in rectangular mortice). Wig: blue. Face: red, details in black and white. Beard: red, fixed to throat. Collar: no falcon’s heads; curved black lines on white, lower edge with black drops. Hands: – Body: red net on white (Rindi’s net design I: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 18). Back pillar: absent, but plain red band painted over back. Plinth: red. Base: top red, sides white. Cavity: casket, originally with sliding lid (lost, Rindi’s Type 1β: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 17). Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, black hieroglyphs on white, framed in black. Text: Wsꞽr Ḥr-mꜣꜥ-ḫrw … mꜣꜥ ḫrw. Translation: The Osiris, Her(em)ma‘akheru…, justified. Comments: For the name, cf. perhaps PN I, 247.22 (cf. also 248.16–17). The height of 52 cm given by Kminek-Szedlo is presumably a mistake, since it is 41 cm according to the Sub-Allegato Collezione Palagi. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 600–300 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2124; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, no. 113; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 37, no. 331; Pernigotti, in Pernigotti (ed.), Aegyptiaca Bononiensia, 1990, p. 82.

18 EG 332 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2082 or 2084)

TYPE V Dimensions: h. 39 (no crown or base, but including tenon), w. 8.6, d. 6.2 cm. Crown: lost (broken dowel). Wig: black. Face: white (?), details in black and white. Beard: fixed to throat. Collar: black horizontal bands between lappets of wig; falcon collar with bands in blue, red, and black on white background, lower edge with black drops. Hands: – Body: white. Back pillar: – Plinth: upper face red, traces of blue on front. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: lost. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 750–600 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, nos. 2082 or 2084; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 71–75; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 332.

19 EG 333 (ex-coll. Neri-Baraldi)

TYPE ? Dimensions: h. 49.5 (no crown or base, feet lost), w. 14, d. 9.4 cm. Crown: lost (dowel sawn off). Wig: framed in black. Face: red traces on chin and ears. Beard: traces of black, fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: remains of black along back pillar. Back pillar: present. Plinth: lost, together with feet. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Inscriptions: no traces on front, 1 column on back pillar, black hieroglyphs on white. Text: illegible traces only. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 37, no. 333.

20 EG 334 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2127)

TYPE IVC Dimensions: h. 48 (no crown, tenon, or base), w. 10.1, d. 9.3 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: blue (over black?), with fillet checkered red, white, and black. Face: yellow, details in black. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: horizontal black bands between lappets of wig; falcon collar with rather coarse bands (red with black dots, black, checkered red, white, and black, black with white dots) on whitish background, lower edge with black drops. Hands: – Body: red with traces of black varnish. Back pillar: present. Plinth: sawn off together with tenon. Base: lost. Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, 1 column on back pillar, black hieroglyphs on white, framed in black. Text: (front) [ꞽnḏ ḥr.]k, ꞽwꜥw pr m nṯr pn, nḫḫ … (back) Wsꞽr ꞽḥyt n Ꞽmn-Rꜥ Ꞽrty-r.w, mꜣꜥ ḫrw, zꜣt n [ꜥ]nḫ-pꜣ-ẖrd, mꜣꜥ ḫrw, ms nbt-pr Tꜣ-r(m)ṯ-n-Bꜣstt. Translation: (front) [Hail to] you, heir who proceeded from this god, spittle … (back) The Osiris, the musician of Amun-Re, Irtyru, justified, daughter of Ankhpakhered, justified, whom the housewife Taremtjenbastet has borne. Comments: For the names, see PN I, 42.10 and 364.23. The patronymicum is partly unclear because of a bituminous stain. All three names occur on some objects from the tomb of Ankhhor in Thebes (TT 414); I thank J. Budka for this reference. Provenance: Thebes, TT 414 of Ankhhor. Date: c. 300–200 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2127; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, nos. 116–17; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, pp. 37–38, no. 334. For the names, see Bietak and Reiser-Haslauer, Das Grab des ^cAnch-Hor, II, 1982, pp. 253, 269 (G20), 282 (G 146).

21 EG 335 (ex coll. University)

TYPE VAR. Dimensions: h. 45.7 (no crown or base, without tenon), w. 10.2, d. 7.5 cm. Crown: lost (broken dowel). Wig: blue. Face: gold, details in black and white. Beard: blue, fixed to throat. Collar: falcon collar with bands in blue, red, and green on white, outlined in black, lower edge with drops blue, green, and red. Hands: – Body: white. Back pillar: present. Plinth: blue. Base: lost, but was still present in 1789 (see Comments); the current base is modern. Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, black hieroglyphs on white, framed in blue. Text: [ḏd mdw ꞽn] Wsꞽr ḫnty [Ꞽmntt, nṯr ꜥꜣ, nb] R-sṯꜣw, dꞽ.[f krs.f (n) Wsꞽr Ḥr-wḏꜣ, mꜥꜣ ḫrw, zꜣ Pꜣ-šry-(Wsꞽr?), mꜣꜥ ḫrw]. Translation: [Recitation by Os-]iris, foremost [of the West, great god, lord of] Ro-setau, may he give [a burial (?) (to) the Osiris Horwedja, justified, the son of Pashery(wesir?), justified]. Comments: The reconstruction of the inscriptions is based on a hand-copy made by Georg Zoëga, who visited the collection in 1789. The original base was still present in 1789, and is described by Zoëga as having a large cavity in front, in which remained a quantity of “asphalt”. For the names, see PN I, 246.23 and 118.14. Unfortunately, Zoëga does not mention from which collection the statue came to the Istituto delle Scienze. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 38, no. 335; Picchi, Alle origini dell’Egittologia, 2010, pp. 26 and 67 with fig. 7a-b; Regulski (ed.), Hieroglyphs, 2022, pp. 60–61, figs. 36–37.

22 EG 336, EG 415, EG 3148 (ex-coll. Palagi nos. 2125, 2144, 2194; formerly Nizzoli 1831)

TYPE VAR. Dimensions: h. 43, base l. 21.5, w. 11 cm. Crown: shuty crown with ram’s horns black (tips of horns lost), white feathers outlined in red and black, sun disk red outlined in black, sides and reverse white; fixed by means of modern tenon. Wig: strands of echeloned red and white locks, outlined in black, rear in horseshoe pattern, white straps on front lappets; red disk-shaped support for crown on top of head. Face: white, details in black. Beard: black with plaited pattern in relief, fixed to throat. Collar: falcon collar of three red bands on white, outlined in black, lower edge with red and white drops. Hands: – Body: white. Back pillar: white. Plinth: white, continuous with tenon. Base: white (black and red frame of blank text column on upper face). Cavity: casket with lid supporting a falcon mummy (white, with details in red and black: feather crown with sun disk, necklace with bulla and mankhet, tail feathers, curved line over sides; Rindi’s Type 1β, design 2: Rindi, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Statuettes, 2012, p. 17). Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, black hieroglyphs on whitish background, framed in red and black. Text: ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr, ḫnty Ꞽmntyw, nṯr ꜥꜣ, nb ꜣbḏw, dꞽ.f krs ḏsr n ꞽḥyt ḫnty Ꞽmntyw. Translation: Recitation by Osiris, foremost of the westerners, great god, lord of Abydos, may he give a sacred 23 (?) burial to the musician (?), foremost of the westerners. Comments: Kminek-Szedlo already noted that this statue is the only one made in legno ingessato (plastered wood). In fact, this object seems to have been made of limestone in view of its considerable weight. Two similar limestone figures are in the Cairo Museum (CG 6838 and CG 6850) and another one is in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (Inv.no. 636, Borgia Collection; cf. Cantilena and Rubino (eds.), La collezione egiziana, 1989, p. 72, no. 8.13, pl. V; Guida alla collezione egizia, 2016, p. 99; Fig. 17 ). I thank Daniela Picchi for this information. Such limestone figures may represent a local custom of a hitherto unidentified sanctuary. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Nizzoli, Catalogo, 1827, p. 19, no. III.7; [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2125, no. 2144, and no. 2194; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, no. 114, p. 10, no. 133 and p. 14, no. 183; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 38, no. 336, p. 46, no. 415, and p. 349, no. 3148.

24 EG 337 (ex-coll. Palagi nos. 2091 and 2194 [?]; formerly Nizzoli 1831)

TYPE IB

Dimensions: h. 50.2, w. 12.5, base l. 23.1 cm. Crown: shuty crown black, sun disk in relief, no ram’s horns. Wig: black. Face: black. Beard: lost (detached, dowel hole in chin). Collar: – Hands: arms bent with hands crossed opposite, holding crook (in left hand) and flail (in right hand), black. Body: black. Back pillar: – Plinth: – Base: top with traces of black. Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: – Comments: Kminek-Szedlo notes the height as 40 cm, presumably without the crown, which is said to be absent, while Nizzoli mentions it in his catalogue. Provenance: Thebes (?). Date: c. 975–900 BC. Bibliography: Nizzoli, Catalogo, 1827, p. 13, II.19; [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, nos. 2091 and presumably 2194 (?); Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 77–95 and p. 14, no. 183 (?); Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 38, no. 337.

25 EG 338 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2083)

TYPE V

Dimensions: h. 38 (no crown, tenon, or base), w. 9, d. 7.9 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: striated red and green on whitish background, rear in horseshoe pattern. Face: green, details in black. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: horizontal red stripes between lappets of wig; falcon collar with red and green bands, lower band with green drops, traces of falcon’s heads. Hands: – Body: whitish. Back pillar: – Plinth: red, but front whitish with continuation of text column. Base: lost (present base is modern, tenon sawn off). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, 1 column on back, black hieroglyphs on whitish background, framed in red and green. Text: (front) ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr, dꞽ.f ḳrs (nfr?) nb … (back) ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr Mn…nfr, dꞽ.f. Translation: (front) Recitation by Osiris, may he give a beautiful (?) burial and all … (back) Recitation by Osiris Mennefer (?), … . Comments: The texts are corrupt. The nefer sign is positioned horizontally; perhaps Wennefer is meant here. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 750–600 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2083; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 71–75; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 38, no. 338.

26 EG 339 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2081; formerly Nizzoli 1832)

TYPE VAR.

Dimensions: h. 39 (without peg, no crown), w. 10.6, d. 9.7 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: striated black on blue, with fillet white-red-white. Face: yellow, details in black and white. Beard: fixed to throat, striated as wig. Collar: falcon collar with 6 ranges of drops, petals, and block friezes; red, blue, and green on white. Hands: – Body: pattern of wings crossing over lower body; alternating ranges of plain blue, and green, blue or red-green feathers on white. Back pillar: – Plinth: shallow, blue. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 2 columns on front, 1 on back, black hieroglyphs on white, framed in red, white, and blue (front) or blue (back). Text: (front 1) Wsꞽr ḫnty Ꞽmntt, nṯr ꜥꜣ, nb ꜣbḏw, Skr-Wsꞽr, (2) ḥry qbḥw Ꞽmn-ḥtp, mꜣꜥ ḫrw, zꜣ Ns-Mꞽn, mꜣꜥ ḫrw, (back) ms nbt-pr ṯꜣ-šryt-Mꞽn, mꜣꜥ ḫrw, n Wsꞽr, ḫnty, n Wsꞽr. Translation: (front 1) Osiris, foremost of the West, great god, lord of Abydos, Sokar-Osiris, (2) the chief libation priest Amenhotep, justified, son of Nesmin, justified, (back) born to the housewife Tasherytmin, justified, for Osiris, foremost, for Osiris. Comments: For the names, see PN I, 30.12, 176.12 and 369.3. The title does not occur in Gauthier, Personnel, 1931, but see Wb V, p. 27,6. The names point to a provenance of this statue from Akhmim. The end of the text is corrupt. Provenance: Akhmim (?). Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2081; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 7, no. 70; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, pp. 38–39, no. 339; Pernigotti, in Pernigotti (ed.), Aegyptiaca Bononiensia, 1990, p. 81.

27 EG 340 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2128)

TYPE IVC

Dimensions: h. 52.5 (no crown or base, but including tenon below), w. 11.3, d. 8.3 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: traces of blue. Face: ? Beard: fixed to throat. Collar: traces only. Hands: – Body: traces of red; traces of unclear motif (kneeling winged goddess?) on abdomen. Back pillar: present. Plinth: blue band along lower edge. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 framed column on front (traces only). Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2128; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 9, nos. 116–17; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 37, no. 340.

28 EG 341 (ex-coll. University, formerly Cospi)

TYPE VAR.

Dimensions: h. 36.5 (no base), w. 8, d. 5.6 cm. Crown: shuty crown cut from same piece of wood as statue, no horns, traces of red on feathers. Wig: blue. Face: details in black. Beard: fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: ? Back pillar: – Plinth: shallow. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: ? Comments: This object was illustrated by Legati in 1677 and was seen at the Istituto delle Scienze by Zoëga in 1789. There is a rounded pin under the feet, instead of the usual heavy tenon. The fact that the crown is cut from the same block of wood is also highly unusual. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Legati, Museo Cospiano, 1677, p. 459 (reproduced in Morigi Govi and Sassatelli, Dalla Stanza delle Antichità, 1984, p. 128, upper right picture, on the far right); Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 341; Picchi, Alle origini dell’Egittologia, 2010, p. 26, p. 67 with n. 201; cf. Picchi, REAC 6 (2004), pp. 66–68, 82.

29 EG 341 ½ (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2086)

TYPE ?

Dimensions: h. 31 (no crown or base, tenon not visible), w. 7.5, d. 5.4 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: ? Face: traces of blue with details in black. Beard: fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: ? Back pillar: present. Plinth: present. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: ? Comments: all painted decoration flaked off. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2086; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 71–75; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 341 ½.

30 EG 343 (ex-coll. University, formerly Cospi)

TYPE IV?

Dimensions: h. 32.5 (no crown or base, without tenon, plinth only partly visible), w. 7, d. 6.6 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: traces of blue? Face: traces of red. Beard: blue, fixed to throat. Collar: blue and black horizontal stripes between lappets of wig, falcon collar with traces of curved bands underneath. Hands: – Body: red (possibly traces of bead net). Back pillar: present. Plinth: black? Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front (only frame visible), back pillar completely flaked off. Comments: This object was illustrated by Legati in 1677 and was seen at the Istituto delle Scienze by Zoëga in 1789. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Legati, Museo Cospiano, 1677, p. 459 (reproduced in Morigi Govi and Sassatelli, Dalla Stanza delle Antichità, 1984, p. 128, upper right picture, second from right); Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 343; Picchi, Alle origini dell’Egittologia, 2010, p. 26, p. 67 with n. 201; cf. Picchi, REAC 6 (2004), pp. 66–68, 82.

31 EG 344 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2085)

TYPE ?

Dimensions: h. 31.5 (no crown or base, but including tenon), w. 8.1, d. 6.7 cm. Crown: lost (broken dowel). Wig: ? Face: traces of blue near the left ear. Beard: fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: ? Back pillar: – Plinth: present. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: – Comments: paint completely flaked off. The lack of a back-pillar is remarkable and may point to an earlier date. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 750–600 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, no. 2085; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 71–75; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 344.

32 EG 345 (ex-coll. University, formerly Cospi)

TYPE IV

Dimensions: h. 31.5 (no crown or base), w. 7.3, d. 6 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: blue. Face: details in black. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: ? Hands: – Body: red. Back pillar: present. Plinth: present. Base: lost. Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, traces in black on white. Comments: tenon rounded. Comments: This object was illustrated by Legati in 1677 and was seen at the Istituto delle Scienze by Zoëga in 1789. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Legati, Museo Cospiano, 1677, p. 459 (reproduced in Morigi Govi and Sassatelli, Dalla Stanza delle Antichità, 1984, p. 128, upper right picture, second from left); Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 39, no. 345; Picchi, Alle origini dell’Egittologia, 2010, p. 26, p. 67 with n. 201; cf. Picchi, REAC 6 (2004), pp. 66–68, 82.

33 EG 2076 (ex-coll. Palagi no. 2082 or 2084)

TYPE V

Dimensions: h. 36.8 (no crown or base), w. 9.5, d. 7.3 cm. Crown: lost (dowel broken off). Wig: black. Face: green, details in black. Beard: black, fixed to throat. Collar: falcon collar with 2 ranges of petals and umbels, lower edge with drops, black (?) on whitish background. Hands: – Body: white. Back pillar: – Plinth: shallow, black (?). Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: 1 column on front, 1 on back, blue on white. Text: (front) ḏd … (back) ḏd mdw ꞽn Wsꞽr, [ḫnty] Ꞽmntt … Translation: (front) Reci[tation by …]. (back) Recitation by Osiris, [foremost of] the West … Comments: The peg for fixing a feather crown and the nature of the text seem to exclude the possibility that this is a shabti, as Kminek-Szedlo thought. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 750–600 BC. Bibliography: [Rossi], in Sub-Allegato, 1870s, nos. 2082 or 2084; Rossi, in Brizio (ed.), Cenni storici, 1871, p. 8, nos. 71–75; Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 247, no. 2076.

34 EG 2078 (ex-coll. University, formerly Cospi)

TYPE VAR.

Dimensions: h. 30.2 (no crown or base, tenon not visible), w. 8.1, d. 7.3 cm. Crown: lost (dowel hole). Wig: ? Face: ? Beard: – Collar: ? Body: ? Back pillar: present. Plinth: present. Base: lost (present base is modern). Cavity: – Contents: – Inscriptions: ? Comments: all paint has flaked off. Kminek-Szedlo mentions the presence of a rectangular base, probably meaning the square plinth of this item. This, together with the back pillar (which does not occur in wooden shabtis) and the perforation for fixing a feather crown excludes the possibility that this is a shabti (as presumably thought by Kminek-Szedlo). This object was illustrated by Legati in 1677 and was seen at the Istituto delle Scienze by Zoëga in 1789. Provenance: unknown. Date: c. 300–30 BC. Bibliography: Legati, Museo Cospiano, 1677, p. 459 (reproduced in Morigi Govi and Sassatelli, Dalla Stanza delle Antichità, 1984, p. 128, upper right picture, on the far left); Kminek-Szedlo, Catalogo, 1895, p. 247, no. 2078; Picchi, Alle origini dell’Egittologia, 2010, p. 26, p. 67 with n. 201; cf. Picchi, REAC 6 (2004), pp. 66–68, 82.