An Egyptian terracotta statuette of the Apis bull.
 
Hellenistic Period Egypt: Circa 2nd-1st century BC.
 
Generally Fine condition: worn, with some minor chips.
Length 5.7 cms (2.25 ins)
 
Provenance: Andrew Cunningham Ware, France / South Florida (1945 - 2024).
 
The figure was probably made of Nile mud in the Nile Delta as a votive offering. Such figures in various materials were commonly dedicated by individuals in temples or shrines as acts of personal devotion. They expressed a request or thanks to the god, typically for health, fertility, protection, or good fortune. The Apis bull was not just symbolic but considered a living manifestation of the god Ptah (later linked with Osiris/Serapis), making it a powerful focus for prayer and intercession. Many terracotta Apis figures have been excavated at Naukratis, a major Greco-Egyptian settlement.