Figure of Pataikos

The god is shown in the standard form of an achondroplastic (bow-legged) dwarf. He is naked except for a necklace and stands upon two animals, possibly foxes. He holds knives close on either side of his belly and is biting upon a snake which falls from each corner of his mouth. The figurine most probably had an apotropaic function, to ward off harm posed by dangerous creatures. At the nape of the neck is a striated and perforated suspension lug. The underside of the base is incised with enigmatic signs (including the right eye of Horus) into which the pale blue glaze has flowed to form a darker colour.

Entry taken from Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection 3 volume catalogue, edited by Steven Hooper (Yale University Press, 1997).