Cleveland Museum of Art

Uraeus (Rearing Cobra)

Date

1307–1196 BCE

Medium

Silver-copper alloy with inlays (copper, feldspar, turquoise, obsidian?) and gilding

Culture

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 19

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Made from a silver-copper alloy, this rearing cobra likely served as a uraeus, symbolizing royal or divine power in ancient Egypt. Its lowermost portion likely fit into the top of the head of a large sculpture, while its body and tail seem cut short, perhaps making room for a solar disk to rise up behind. The eyes are inlaid, and six cavities for additional inlay remain on the expanded hood, the lowermost still intact, the others likely once filled with brightly colored blue and red stone. Much of the remaining surface may once have been gilded, to judge from remaining traces of gold on the back. The word uraeus comes from an Egyptian term for “rising/rearing up,” describing the cobra’s position.

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