#cippus

Egyptian cippus of Isis (steatite, Ptolemaic Period c. 332-30 BC)

This is a rarely found depiction of the goddess Isis on a cippus. Shown here wearing a tripartite wig, surmounted by solar disc between cow horns, standing on a pair of crocodiles, her arms bent upwards, each hand holding snakes and scorpions, a lion hangs vertically in the right hand, an antelope in the left hand, both held by their tail, inscribed on the reverse with four columns of protective magical spells. Inscribed beneath is an ouroboros, a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, representing the continuous cycle of destruction and rebirth. The face of the goddess is worn, as is often the case with Horus, suggesting the cippus was frequently used.

Dozens of magical figures on the front of the Metternich Stela, including lions, snakes, crocodiles, and what looks like a winged, springing greyhound.

When: Late Period, 30th Dynasty

Etruscan Funerary cippus (marker)

* Chianciano, Toscana

* Circa 480 BCE

* Museo Barracco, Rome

An immense stone that defined the sacred city limits of ancient Rome almost 2,000 years ago has been unearthed by construction workers in the historic center of the city.

The so-called pomerial stone or "cippus," is more than 6 feet (nearly 2 meters) tall and made of fine limestone called travertine. Workers discovered it in June while installing new sewers in the plaza around the recently-restored Mausoleum of Augustus, which opened as a museum earlier this year.

Cippi of Melqart

Malta

2nd century BCE

1.05 M high

Egyptian Magic Cippus with Horus, Late Period, 664-332 BC

A steatite cippus depicting Horus as a child with sidelock, carved in high relief, standing facing on two overlapping crocodiles, holding snakes and scorpions aloft, with a lion hanging from his right hand and an antelope from his left; wedjat eyes above; the reverse and sides with five rows of protective figures and three rows of hieroglyphs below. 87mm (3 ½").

The cippus of Horus range in date from the thirteenth century BC to the second century AD and were mostly set up in temples, though some are known from domestic contexts. They are normally inscribed with anti-venom spells and had the dual purpose of repelling actual poisonous reptiles or dangerous animals, and to cure those who had been bitten. They also functioned in a more general way against supernatural beings envisaged in animal or reptile form. The power of Horus is demonstrated by his dominion over the evil animals as he is generally depicted standing on the back of crocodiles and holding serpents, scorpions, lions and oryx in his hands.