A bronze figure of the lion-headed goddess, Sekhmet. She wears the solar disc with uraeus on her head and stands with her arms to her side on an integral plinth. The mane and facial details are clearly defined. Fixed to a small acrylic base.
 
Egyptian Intermediate Period: Circa 1069-664 BC.
 
Fine condition generally: the surfaces are a little uneven and have been cleaned but the metal is strong.
Height 8.5 cms (3.35 ins)
 
Provenance: Swiss priv. coll. B. R. Bern, purchased in München, Germany in 2022 from J. Antonio, Barcelona, Spain.
 
This representation of Sekhmet, the lion-headed Egyptian goddess of pestilence and war and daughter of the sun god Ra speaks to the power of women in the Egyptian pantheon. She was Goddess of War whilst her destructive force makes her goddess of disease, although she was not always a cruel god. If you appealed to her better nature Sekhmet would become the goddess of healing and prevent wars.