Egyptian Truncated Female Figurines in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

The paper represents the first detailed publication of three Ancient Egyptian figurines from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (I, 1a 5882, I, 1a 5900, I, 1a 5912). They be-long to the group of small figurines usually depicting naked women lacking legs below the knees. Their key features are complex lush hairstyles; detailed elaboration of both the front and the reverse surface; various types of jewelry. The figurines are dated back to the late Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period. The figurine I, 1a 5882 (12.1 cm) is made of bright blue (turquois) faience and represents the most typical example of truncat-ed figurines of the early phase of their existence. The figurines I, 1a 5900 (11.5 cm) and I, 1a 5912 (9.8 cm) are made of limestone and belong to the end phase. Moreover, figurine I, 1a 5912 represents a rare type of naked female carrying a small child. The paper exam-ines in detail the appearance of three figurines (hairstyles, jewelry, tattoos etc.) in the cul-tural and historical context of the period. Truncated figurines were in different ways in-terpreted in historiography: dolls, the Divine Mother, concubines, dancing girls, fertility figurines. The authors of the paper analyze basic points of view on functions of truncated figurines and make conclusion that they belonged to the feminine domestic rites connect-ed to conception, birth, health of a child and a mother and in a broader sense to fertility that is directly associated with the goddess Hathor. It is no coincidence that they are found together with paddle-dolls, clappers, magic wands, mirrors, figurines of hippopota-mi, monkeys, lions, Besit, Ipi/Taweret. These are objects connected one way or another with birth, childhood, fertility. The category of fertility was of particular importance dur-ing the antiquity. High infant mortality and frequent infant and maternal death during la-bour made people especially protect everything connecting to conception, birth, health of a child and a mother

Aesthetics · Archaeology · Art · The arts · Visual arts · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History