Circa 664-332 BC, Late Dynastic Period The god is shown seated in mummiform with a braided divine beard, an atef-crown, and a peaceful, idealized face. He is posed with the arms folded across the chest holding a crook and flail. Osiris is the most significant and important god in the Egyptians pantheon. He is known firstly as a god of fertility and then as a god of the underworld. He is usually depicted as a gold or green-faced man, to declare his association with the underworld. In his role of lord of the underworld he was associated with a pharaoh and is thus generally portrayed as a deceased pharaoh, as he is depicted on this figurine. This very important example was exhibited at Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan State University, 1985 to 2002. Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, vol XXII (2011), no.158. For a nearly identical example see Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, December 18, 1940 lot 39.  Size: L:145mm / W:75mm; 580g Provenance: Property of a Central London Gallery, acquired by a British collector, ex-private Bandy collection, Rochester, Michigan, USA; ex Royal Athena Gallery, 1986.