Votive head. Saite culture. Dynasty XXVI, Egypt.

Votive head. Saite culture. Dynasty XXVI, Egypt.
Limestone.
Provenance: Private collection, Claude Nathan, Paris, France. Acquired at the sale of the Me Rheims collection, Hôtel Drouot, February 14, 1964, lot 124 bis.
Measurements: 13 x 12 x 9 cm (sculpture); 11.3 x 8 x 8 x 8 cm (base).

The Saite culture had a great influence on the classical Greek culture, which can be seen in this votive head, which denotes a certain syncretism and a high quality. Thus, we can see a face with harmonious features but endowed with individuality, unlike the idealizations to which Greek sculpture tended. The votive heads were symbolic offerings to a deity, in this case of the Egyptian polytheistic pantheon. The Saite culture, also known as the Saite Renaissance, flourished in Egypt during the 26th Dynasty (664-525 BC). It was characterized by a revival of interest in ancient Egyptian traditions and religion after a period of foreign domination.