Statue Of Osiris Analysis

The Statue of Osiris can be found at the Field Museum in Chicago Illinois. It is made out of Bronze material and was created in 664-525 BC by an unknown artist. The height of the statue is 55 cm (21 5/8 in.). The Bronze statue would have been entombed with a mummified body. Osiris, a god of the dead, stands mummiform, arms positioned right above left, with wrapped feet. It was Egyptian that was created in the late period, Dynasty 26 and reflects styles from the New Kingdom.

The Statue of Osiris was originally made out of bronze and oxidized with a greenish-teal coloring. Bronze was used a lot during this time period in Egypt. New techniques were being developed by the Greeks. The direct solid lost-wax technique was used in the manufacturing

process in creating bronze statues. The bronze-casting method involves a modeled wax figure covered with clay, followed by high heat, melting away the wax. In this particular instance the Statue of Osiris was standing in an upward position on a base with the back of the statue smoothed out entirely finalizing the piece.

Osiris typically bore an Atef, a regal and decadently feathered white crown that represented his loyalty to Egypt. It was combined with the Hedjet which was the crown of Upper Egypt. On both sides of the crown, there were curly ostrich feathers. As a flightless bird, the ostrich is grounded and loyal to its country, much like Osiris strived to be to uphold his crown. However, their shape is really what defines them. The feathers have a slight flare towards the base of the statue and at the upper end of the feathers, there was a powerful arch. Unassuming at first, it became clear that the right wing was dramatically damaged and missing a considerable portion. The oxidation respectively gave forward a slightly washed copper appearance towards It’s crest. It compared well to the greenish color that coated the most of the statue. Looking directly at the crown a noticeable was decoration simplifying Uraeus (cobra) can be easily seen. This ornate symbol displayed a bronze serpent, slithering between his eyes.
There are multiple signs that were apparent upon observing this piece.

The beard was a sign of being divine while the headdress associates the god with the ruling Pharaohs. Above all else, Osiris’s features were naturalistic, a representation that was based on the actual depicted in the physical artwork. Upon further inspection, the figure had a round face with deep idealized eyes carved out , leaving noticeable black shadow matching the lack of glare on the upper rounded cheek structure. The eyebrows were contoured (to say the least). He had prominently large ears that were pulled back to accentuate his thick lipped, yet slight smile. That smile lifts the figure's cheeks up, giving it life and energy as an otherwise small potentially noticeable feature. His arms are projected out of the mummy-like wrapping. The right arm laid on his chest and his left arm was positioned below, at his stomach. Osiris’s right and left elbow are spotted with brown coloring. Corrosion has left a small hole on the left side of the chest as well as smalls cracks throughout. His hands gripped the crook and flail, one above the other. The crook and flail are symbols used in Ancient Egyptian society; they were originally the attributes of the deity Osiris, who became a symbol of Pharaonic authority. Osiris reflects this symbol of power with his idealized beard which was straight braided beard and falsely fastened to his

chin.

Osiris’s feet are bonded together and the appearance of being tightly wrapped like a mummy. Osiris was standing on a square base that was one inch tall. At the right side of the base, there was more corrosion on his feet that lead down to the bottom of the base of the statue.

The Egyptian bronze statue of Osiris that was portrayed standing, wearing Atef crown with uraeus and false-breaded beard, arms at chest, and hands together holding a crook and flail. As a god of the underworld and afterlife, Osiris typical was symbolized as a mummy. He became idealized as a protector and patron of the departed, promising them resurrection and eternal life belonging to the New Kingdom’s style of art. Osiris has been used to exemplify power from being carved in the temple of Ramses II to continuing his legacy on to the late period, in forms of small bronze statues that were used in funeral barrels. He created hope and fear since he had the power to decide if a person's soul would resume to live in the afterlife and enjoy all that it had to offer.