Collection of Romano-Egyptian Terracotta Heads of Harpocrates

Ptolemaic Period, c. 330–30 BC, Naukratis, Egypt

An exceptional trio of finely preserved Romano-Egyptian votive terracotta heads depicting Harpocrates, the youthful god of secrecy and renewal. Once part of larger statuettes, these sculpted fragments retain delicately modeled features that convey the innocence of the divine child—rounded cherubic cheeks, softly arched brows, and large doll-like eyes.

Each head shows Harpocrates with the traditional shaven scalp and distinctive side-lock of youth. He wears the tall double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, once flanked by lotus buds tied with a ribbon across the brow (now mostly lost). This crown not only signified royal authority but also underscored Harpocrates’ filial connection to Horus, who himself was often portrayed wearing it. Pharaohs adopted the same headdress as a public declaration of their role as earthly manifestations of Horus.

In Egyptian tradition, Harpocrates—Harpa-Khruti (“Horus the Child”)—was the son of Isis and Osiris, embodying rebirth, protection, and the continuity of kingship. His raised finger to the lips was a conventional Egyptian sign for childhood and the hieroglyph for “child.” However, when the Greeks encountered this imagery, they misinterpreted it as the gesture of silence, transforming Harpocrates into the god of secrecy, confidentiality, and hidden truths in the classical world.

These rare heads are compelling survivals of cross-cultural religious art, bridging Egyptian mythological tradition with its Greco-Roman reinterpretation. Their fine modeling, symbolic richness, and provenance from Naukratis—a key center of Greek-Egyptian cultural exchange—make them an important addition to any serious collection of ancient terracotta sculpture or Mediterranean religious iconography.

Good condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, nicks and chips, with encrusted patina. Some white chalk traces are still visible. One example is presented on a custom-made display stand. Size approx. 5,1cm x 3,2cm x 3,3cm, 2,9cm x 2,6cm x 2,8cm &  3,5cm x 3,6cm x 1,6cm. 

Provenance: Dutch private collection. Acquired in the 1960s.

For a similar examples see:

Figure, The British Museum, Accession Number: NA705 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/X__761)

Figure, The British Museum, Accession Number: NA657 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/X__759)