Relic of Harpocrates, the god of secrecy and silence, found.

Stormrune · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:41 pm

I found this on Neales site and thought it very interesting, especially for those members with an interest and facination with all things Egyptian, like Pat

so decided to 'nick it' (as one does :lol:

)

Quote:

guardian.co.uk home
Friday 16 July 2010 14.06 BST

A battered and corroded thumb-sized piece of bronze has turned out to be a unique find, the earliest representation of an Egyptian deity from any site in Britain – and appropriately, after almost 2,000 years hidden in the ground, it is Harpocrates, the god of secrecy and silence.

The little figure was found at Silchester, site of an abandoned Roman city in Hampshire, in last summer's excavation, but his identity was only revealed in months of careful conservation work. His Greek and Roman designation as Harpocrates, the god of spymasters, is actually a transcription error.

"In Egyptian mythology the figure is known as Horus, the child of Isis and Osiris," said Professor Mike Fulford of the University of Reading, director of the Silchester excavation. "He is often shown with his finger in his mouth, a gesture that in Egypt represented the hieroglyph for his name, but was misinterpreted by the Greeks and Romans, resulting in his adoption as the god of silence and secrecy."

He was originally an ornament on an object, which is itself unique. "The figurine was attached to part of a charcoal-burning brazier which would have been used to provide heating and lighting. This brazier is the only one found in England so we are doubly excited," Fulford said. "The brazier, the sort of thing you would expect to find in Pompeii, is the first evidence of such a luxurious item from Roman Britain."

The context of the find suggests the brazier was imported, and later thrown out into a rubbish pit, in the first century AD.

You can read more and see a picture HERE

Aren · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:02 pm

Silchester is a fascinating place to investigate, and TVPG have been there a couple of times now. We have reports available on our investigation report on Silchester.

Pandora · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:39 pm

very interesting SR, good find, get a gold star and go to the top of the class

bastet · **Posted:** Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:51 am

Blooming missed this one, as one does :evil:

It would seem t be hangover from the Tolemi's influences, because, although they were of Greek decent, were heavily in bed with the Romans :lol:

Good find Lorraine - thanks!

Patxx

Wolfsbane · **Joined:** Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:10 pm **Posts:** 580

It's amazing what they dig up that we find strange to be in this country, good find

Phoenix · **Posted:** Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:31 pm

Ceiling roses found in houses remind us of Harpocrates. For that is spoken under the rose (sub rosa), so tradition tells us, must be kept secret. This is the reason ceiling roses are found in the great ancient houses and adapted somewhat by the Victorians. If you live in a Victorian Villa or terrace glance up at the ceiling in the front or dining room. When dinning and drinking it is often too easy to let slip a secret as good wine makes one careless.
The rose's connotation of secrecy dates back to Greek mythology. Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, the god of love; he, in turn, gave it to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure that his mother's indiscretions (or those of the gods in general, in other accounts) were not disclosed. Paintings of roses on the ceilings of Roman banquet rooms were also a reminder that things said under the influence of wine (sub vino) should also remain sub rosa. :ugeek:

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Relic of Harpocrates, the god of secrecy and silence, found.

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