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Torso of Ziharpto

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Wab-priests of Sakhmet were one of several types of priest-physicians and veterinarians whose treatments were partly magical in nature. The treatment for snakebite, for example, could include incisions, emetics, topical applications, and the recitation of spells. Like regular physicians (swnw), wab-priests of Sakhmet were trained in temple scriptoria (places where texts were composed) called Houses of Life. As priests, they were part of the very small percentage of the population that was literate, and much Egyptian magic was a matter of written and spoken spells. All but the highest Egyptian priests worked only part of the year as priests and so had time to practice privately as magicians.

MEDIUM Basalt
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES 380-342 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 30
    PERIOD Late Period
    DIMENSIONS 20 x 10 x 8 in. (50.8 x 25.4 x 20.3 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 86.226.24
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Dark green to black basalt or schist torso of a striding male figure with striped kilt. Both arms formerly hanging down by the sides; figure preserved from the abdomen to left knee. Back pillar has three columns of inscription, and there are the remains of one column on the left side of the back pillar behind the left thigh. Although the owner's name is not preserved on this fragment, Jean Yoyotte has found that it belongs to Ziharpto (Ta-hr-p-ta), the owner of Cairo CG 29306, which is dated to Nectanebo II. Condition: Good, but fragmentary and much chipped. Upper part of statue above abdomen is missing, and so are most of both arms, right leg entirely and left leg below knee, also feet and base.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Torso of Ziharpto, 380-342 B.C.E. Basalt, 20 x 10 x 8 in. (50.8 x 25.4 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.226.24. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.226.24_front_PS2.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 86.226.24_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Torso of Ziharpto</em>, 380-342 B.C.E. Basalt, 20 x 10 x 8 in. (50.8 x 25.4 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.226.24. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.226.24_front_PS2.jpg)