Head of a colossal statue of Zeus-Ammon

myminifactory

While Ammon (Amun-Re) was the most powerful god in ancient Egyptian pantheon, Greece was wholly dominated, both culturally and historically, by the mighty sun god of Egypt. The Greek culture owes a great deal to Egyptian heritage, absorbing many influences from its northern neighbour. One example of this is the syncretic oracular cult of Zeus-Ammon, which spans different cultures and was worshipped especially in the Greek colony of Cyrenaica on the North African coast, but also in Sparta and Thebes. The magnificent marble head in the Liebieghaus museum probably originated in what is now Tunisia. The impressive hair and beard underscore the god's mighty authority. On either side of the strong face are twisted ram's horns. In Egyptian art, Amun-Re is depicted either as a man with blue skin and an erect penis or in the form of a man's body with a ram's head. Like the phallus, the ram highlights the god's life-giving potency and fertility. Zeus-Ammon is an oracular god, standing firmly in the tradition of the prophetic deity Amun-Re. The principal shrine of the Egyptian god was the famous, vast temple complex at Karnak near Thebes. During crucial phases, these oracles and their priests were so powerful that they decided the politics of all Egypt. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.