Links

[ikhet_sekhmet]

Via ratmmjess: The Hohlenstein-Stadel Lion Man, "the oldest imaginary being in the world".

On Flicker, a lion-headed Horus at Edfu.

Photographer Joan Lansberry's site includes great snaps from the Brooklyn Museum, the Sekhmet head that hypnotised me during my own visit, and the Predynastic birdlike lady nicknamed "the Nile Goddess". Plus more Sekhmets at the Met and a whole page of Set.

Striking gods from the Beltane Fire Society's Samhuinn 2009 celebration.

BBC: Oldest evidence of arrows found

Comments

[lemon-cupcake.livejournal.com]

The lion-headed Horus is quite unusual. The accompanying inscription clearly identifies him as Hr nb something I can't make out. It's quite fascinating how rare the male lion is in Egyptian iconography.

Nice study of Set, as well. The identity of the sha animal was, for me if not many others, satisfactorily established by Percy Newberry in 1928, "The Pig and the Cult Animal of Set", who identifies it with an extinct breed of pig, extraordinarily lean and long-legged, sometimes popularly known as the "greyhound pig". I'd love to see one in person; descriptions are extant as late as the 19th century, I believe.

[dreamer-easy.livejournal.com]

At the Western Plains Zoo on the weekend, I learned that male hippos lack external testicles. Oho, I thought to myself, thought I.

(They also really like having their mouths hosed out by the keeper, but that's neither here nor there.)