Tátrai Vilmos szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 94. (Budapest, 2001)

GYŐRY, HEDVIG: To the Interpretation of Pataikos Standing on Crocodiles

sible memphite interpretation of this element may be established by a Cairo amulet:

19 at the back, of the composition a huge snake is creeping upwards to the left shoulder then through the right one, and turning backwards, it is descending to the crocodiles and erecting again up besides the backbone onto the top of the figure. There is an odd thing about the snake - the vertical tripartite division along its body. This pattern can be observed on the collar of several figures of the group. The narrow collar might be made to show this snake coiling around the body or, in certain cases, the collar could be interpreted as this snake. The latter idea seems to be proved by a Cairo statuette (CG 38.809),

20 where the collar slid down the shoulder was worked out all along, forming scales on both sides. In each hand the Budapest statuette holds a long object curved outward at the top. The shape of this object apart from the upper extremity, is identical with the type of knife

21 which was used to cut the head of harmful demons.

22 Nevertheless in this case its tip curves outward and as far as can be seen it is articulated in a similar way to a snake-head. It cannot be related to the menquebit amulets made from the 18

th Dynasty because the angle of the head and body joint precludes this possibility. For an interpretation of this object as a complete snake, however, the designation of the tail under the hand is missing. Thus this object cannot be interpreted either as a snake or a knife unambiguously, but according to the former pieces of this Pataikos type it seems to be more probable that in this case it was thought as a knife. The past ambivalence can be seen well on the Pataikos CG 38.801

23 holding two objects in each hand: a sharp, straight knife at the inner side, and a snake almost rising up to the shoulder outside.

24 In the case of other Pataikos amulets of this group the straight object held in his hands can be interpreted as a knife

23 or reed leaf,

26 however by the representation of the object curved outward a snake,

27 maat feather

28 or a knife

29 were modelled. It occurs sometimes that the hands remained empty

30 or the object was just painted on the trunk. 19 CG 38. 813. 20 Date: 25/26th dynasty; tor physical constitution and technical details see Bes amulet, Budapest, Inv. 52.808 in: Györy, op. cit. (note 13) p. 11, fig. 9, note 2. 21 Helck, W.. Messer, in: LÀ IV, cols. 109-111, fig. 10. 22 Cf. for killing sdhw snake: ''there is metal in your bones' (Jelinkova-Reymond, E., Les inscriptions de la statue guérisseuse de Djed-Her-le-saveur, Le Caire 1956, pp. 288, 33, note 1). 23 In the view of its silhouette, a Pataikos found in Gerar EV 188 level (cca. B. C. 1000) is close to the Budapest piece. Petrie, Fl. Gerar, London 1928, pl. XLV, no. 22; Schäfer, H., Priestergräber und andere Grabfunde vom Ende des Alten Reiches bis zur griechischen Zeit vom Totentempel des Neuserre. Ausgrabungen der Deutschen Orientalgesellschaft in Abusir, 1902-1904, Leipzig 1908. fig. 215, Sp. Tomb 37, 22-23rd Dynasties. 24 Ballod, op. cit. (note 2), p. 30, fig. 5: on a relief from the temple of Armant, Toeris and Bes holding two branches of palm tree and a knife protects Horus at his two sides. 25 E. g. CG 38.808. 26 E. g. CG 38. 813, 38. 801. 27 E. g. CG 38. 808. 39.234, 39. 239, 39. 241. 28 E. g. CG 38. 810, 38.812, 39.237. 24 E. g. 38.817, 39.227, 39.230. 30 E. g. 38.802 - style of limbs and face are very similar to that of the pieces found in Memphis dated about B. C. 300 (Petrie, op. cit. (note 14), pl. XLVII, p. 14), but the groove running to the navel and ending in a ring suggests earlier date.