Isis Holding a Cobra in the Walters Art Museum, September 2009

Isis Holding a Cobra


Creators: Egyptian (Artist) or Roman (Artist)

Period: late 1st century BC-AD 2nd century (Roman)

Medium: bronze (Metal)

Accession Number: 54.2016

Measurements: H: 13 9/16 x W: 3 1/8 x D: 4 1/8 in. (34.4 x 8 x 10.6 cm)

Geographies: Egypt (?) (Place of Origin)

This attire of the Egyptian goddess Isis features the characteristic "Isis knot" between the breasts. The sheaves of grain flanking her crown are not an Egyptian attribute but associate Isis with Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. Isis had an enormous following during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, not only in Alexandria (where she was worshiped jointly with Serapis) and Rome, but also in the most important provincial cities.

Text from: art.thewalters.org/detail/15040/isis-holding-a-cobra/