Egyptian Osiris Brick

Details

Osiris Bricks or Osiris Germinating Beds were used in a ritual carried out in association with the Osirian Festival of Khoiak, and they appeared in some tombs where the deceased associated themselves with this deity.
The seeds germinated in these bricks included grain, cereal or linen seeds that would have been thickly sown in the brick area carved into the effigy of Osiris. The soil was then loosely packed into the brick covering the seeds; the soil was then kept moist until the seeds grew. Once the seedlings had grown to their desired size, the watering would stop, and the grain would be allowed to wilt and die, representing Osiris's power as the god of generation and ruler of the dead.

Within the brick, Osiris is shown in his typical form as a mummy, wearing the tall crown of Upper Egypt adorned with ostrich plumes. In his hands, he holds the crook and flail of kingship.

 Materials

White Earthenware or Pipeclay

Dimensions

Approx. 46 mm tall, 130 mm width, 220 mm length

Production

This replica has been hand-made in Northumberland by Potted History, based on an original artefact.  It has been fired to a temperature of between 800 & 1000 Centigrade to emulate the same techniques the original potters would have employed.  This process often results in variations of the surface colour and texture, a standard feature of the original pottery, giving each piece a unique character.

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first class, please contact us for a quote.  Many Thanks