The Cathedral

Delicate Art thirty-Five Centuries Old

Pharaoh offering precious ointments to the gods.

Horus, at first a sky god (hence the falcon image), eventually became one of the most important gods of the Egyptians, especially as a defender of good vs evil.

Bes offers protection over the young Horus as the latter controls crocodiles, snakes and other creatures. The carving is covered with spells of protection, water poured over it by priests became "Holy Water."

This beautiful and delicate vast is only 50 mm (2 inches) tall.

These tiny glazed pieces are all less than 25mm (one inch) tall. The artful skill of the craftsmen that created these tiny works still amazes us more than 3500 years later.

Big Gods-Little Statues

Small statues, pins, rings, amulets and the like of the gods of Ancient Egypt were popular for use in both every day life as well as important items to be buried with the dead for their use in the next world. In the latter case many such items would be placed in the actual mummy wrappings to accompany and protect the spirit of the dead.

The lion headed Sekhmet, was the powerful goddess of war and battles. The sun disc above her represented the scorching, destructive heat of the sun.  Her fierce temper needed to be appeased and was best used when directed against the enemies of Ra, and Osiris or she could turn against the very humans who worshiped her. 

The dwarf god Bes was the protector of pregnant women, newborn babies and the family as well as protection against snake and scorpion bites. Humor, music and dancing were also popular with Bes and he became a favorite "household" god of the common people.

Tawaret, the Hippo goddess who protected women during pregnancy and childbirth.

Baba, the baboon god was an assistant to Thoth as well as the guardian to the first gate of the underworld.

This ring of Eye of Horus-Oudjat-Wedjat was a protection from evil.

Barbarian Raiders-the Bane of Rome

A Goth scout searching for weakness in the Roman defences foreshadows further incursions by fellow tribesmen.

From Germans marching on the ruins of a Roman town to Dracian raiders on the East European Frontier, Barbarians were a constant danger to the safety of the Roman Empire.

For centuries the barbarian raiders pressured the borders in ever larger and larger numbers.

Alamanni, Angles, Dracians, Franks, Germans, Goths, Huns, Jutes, Ostrogoths, Saxons, Vandals, Visigoths and dozens of smaller tribes slammed in endless waves upon the slowly fading Roman Empire in the 2nd through 5th centuries.

Only the steadfast Legions stood between Rome and her Barbarian enemies. Strong Legions kept the enemy at bay and the Empire endured, but when that strength failed...