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Head from a Ba-Bird Statue

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The ancient Egyptians represented the ba (soul) as a human-headed bird, and the Nubians of the Meroitic Period (circa 270 b.c.e.c.e. 350) took this idea to create their own type of ba-statues, with human bodies and bird’s wings. They also carved these sculptures, which were made for tombs, in a non-Egyptian style that approaches abstraction.
CULTURE Nubian
MEDIUM Sandstone
DATES 1st century B.C.E.-2nd century C.E.
PERIOD Meroitic Period
DIMENSIONS 6 3/4 x 5 x 6 in. (17.1 x 12.7 x 15.2 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 75.26
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Nubian. Head from a Ba-Bird Statue, 1st century B.C.E.-2nd century C.E. Sandstone, 6 3/4 x 5 x 6 in. (17.1 x 12.7 x 15.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 75.26. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.75.26.jpg)
IMAGE overall, CUR.75.26.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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