Tableau of Goddess Isis in Tomb of Psammuthis

Category

Library Item

Item no

31062

Title

Tableau supposed to represent the Goddess Isis receiving Hero in the regions of immortality. Taken from figures large as life in the Tomb of Psammuthis.

Artist / maker

Ricci, J

Date

1820

Size

50.5 x 36.0 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Reference Library

Giovanni Battista Belzoni was an Italian explorer and archaeologist, born in Padua (Padova). In 1803 he was working in England as a circus strong man, and exhibiting models of hydraulic engines. In 1815 he went to Cairo to try and sell his hydraulic engines to Muhammad 'Ali Pasha, and within two years had begun a new career, excavating Egyptian tombs and temples.

Isis is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the patroness of nature and magic. She was the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans and the downtrodden, but she also listened to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers. Isis is often depicted as the mother of Horus, the hawk-headed god of war and protection (although in some traditions Horus's mother was Hathor). Isis is also known as protector of the dead and goddess of children.

Psammuthis was an Egyptian Pharaoh of the Twenty-ninth Dynasty during 393 BC.

This image is used in Central Library's range of postcards. On sale for just 50p from Central Library, the 15 different designs feature beautiful, inspiring, iconic and quirky images from our library collections. If you can't come in to Central to pick up a postcard, you can buy high quality prints of many of our images through this website.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Pyramids

Architecture > Monuments > Tombs

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Bracelets

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hair ornaments

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Headdresses

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Sandals

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Wigs

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Wrap round skirts

Communication > Written > Cartouches

Communication > Written > Hieroglyphs

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Archaeological sites

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Excavation

Places > Africa > Egypt

Religion > Religious gods and goddesses > Gods & Goddesses

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.