Beard from a Statue of a God
The Egyptian nobility usually shaved their faces during life on earth, although mustaches and square beards occasionally enjoyed popularity. It was only in the sphere of the divine that long, tightly braided beards with an upturned end were worn. Many male gods, such as Osiris, the god of the underworld, are portrayed with this beard. Accordingly, images of the deceased, who became associated with Osiris after being accepted into the afterlife, often include the plaited and curved beard. The dark-blue glass inlays on this beard represent lapis lazuli, because divine hair, beards, eyebrows, and eyelashes were said to be of this semiprecious stone.
- Medium: Bronze, glass, faience paste
- Place Made: Egypt
- Dates: 664-30 B.C.
- Dynasty: XXVI Dynasty or later
- Period: Late Period to Greco-Roman Period
- Dimensions: 7/8 x 9/16 x 3 1/16 in. (2.2 x 1.5 x 7.7 cm) (show scale)
- Collections:Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
- Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, Special Exhibitions, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
- Accession Number: 16.241
- Credit Line: Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
- Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY
- Caption: Beard from a Statue of a God, 664-30 B.C. Bronze, glass, faience paste, 7/8 x 9/16 x 3 1/16 in. (2.2 x 1.5 x 7.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.241. Creative Commons-BY
- Catalogue Description: Bronze beard from a statue of a god. Front surface inlaid with dark blue glass strips. Tip of beard has six grooves for vertical inlays. Cast hollow and made as separate piece. Condition: Over half of the inlays are missing.
- Record Completeness: Good (75%)