America’s Frontier | Ethnographic | Ancient

Isis is the Egyptian goddess of childbirth, motherhood, and power, and she was equally famous among the polytheistic worshippers of the Roman Empire. During the early Imperial Period, her worship spread far and wide among the Romans. To honor the goddess, the emperor Caligula established a procession that wound through Rome during his reign. It is believed that Caligula was so staunch a follower that he dressed in female garb for the event. Available in the upcoming America’s Frontier | Ethnographic | Ancient sale, presented by Artemis Gallery, is a Romano-Egyptian carved marble head of Isis. This detailed piece shows her head slightly tilted toward the left, with almond-shaped eyes, closed lips, and full cheeks.

Several fossil pieces will also be included in the auction. Among these is a large clutch of eggs from a 70 to 120 million-year-old nest belonging to a Therizinosaurus. This dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period is believed to have stood nearly 25 feet tall. According to the auction house, this intact clutch of eggs was likely separated from the mother via a flood, mudslide, sandstorm, or some other natural disaster.

A Pre-Columbian shamanic scepter belonging to the Mapuche culture will be offered as well. This mask is hand-carved from mottled brownstone with light and dark inclusions. A suspension strap is threaded through a pair of piercings near the temples. Mapuche shamans symbolically wore this mask during religious ceremonies and rituals. Visit LiveAuctioneers for more information and to register to bid.