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HOME :
Classical Antiquities :
Classical Masterpieces : Hellenistic Gold Applique Depicting Zeus Ammon
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Hellenistic Gold Applique Depicting Zeus Ammon - LO.630
Origin: Alexandria, Egypt
Circa: 300
BC
to 100
BC
Dimensions:
1.3" (3.3cm) high
Collection: Classical
Medium: Gold
Additional Information: Korea
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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The Ancient Egyptian oracle god Amun
had
his
main
sanctuary in the Siwa oasis, some five
hundred
kilometers west of Memphis.
Originally, the
Libyan
desert tribes worshipped a god in the
form
of a
ram
here. Eventually, the cult was
overtaken by
the
Egyptians who identified the god with
their
supreme
deity Amun. The first Greeks to visit
the
shrine
came
from the city-state of Cyrenaica,
calling the
god
Zeus
Ammon. Historical texts indicate that
the
cult
began
to spread outside of Egypt by the 6th
Century
B.C.
During the 5th Century, the poet
Pindar
glorified
Zeus
Ammon in odes and Greek military
commanders
sent
delegations to Siwa to consult the
oracle
before
embarking upon campaigns. By the time
of
Alexander’s
conquest of Egypt, the oracle was a
compulsory
stop.
Alexander considered himself the
divine
offspring of
Zeus, and thereby Zeus Ammon. As a
divine
king,
Alexander was a worthy successor to
the
pharaoh. In
effect, his visit to the oracle was
more
political
than religious. Yet Alexander was
more than
happy to
play up this association and was even
said
to
wear the
horns of the ram during public
occassions to
honor his
father Zeus Ammon. He would be
depicted
this
way on
much of his coinage.
This small, round gold applique
depicts a
bust of
Zeus
Ammon slightly turned to the left.
His hair is
parted
down the middle. Curls cover his
forehead
and
flow
into the spiraling ram horns of Amun.
Yet, he
also
has the long beard and stoical
features of
Zeus.
This
gorgeous applique was once likely a
central
element in
a piece of jewelry. Although it was
crafted in
Alexandria, it may have been intended
for a
far
away
port where this deity was also
worshipped.
- (LO.630)
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