A Rare Type of Isis Dolente Figurine from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow

Abstract

The collections of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow and the Benaki Museum of Athens contain terracotta figurines with unusual iconography. These figures have been interpreted in numerous different ways, and the authors do not think that a completely correct interpretation has yet been found. The ‘problematic’ elements are the pose, gestures and the headdress of the figurines, which resemble both the Isis Dolente type and some depictions of Harpokrates. Perhaps an ancient artisan combined iconographical features of Isis and another deity(-ies) to create these figurines.