Notes:
Dimensions: Overall height 83.5 cm (32 7/8 in); w. of Stela 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in); d. 7.2 cm (2 13/16 in) h. of base 14.4 cm (5 11/16 in); 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in); d. 14.4 cm (5 11/16 in)
Period: Late Period
Dynasty: Dynasty 30
Time Period: 360-343 B.C.
Country of Origin” Egypt (Alexandria Region)
Currently displayed in Gallery 128 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Central Panel Back Front

The Stela belongs to a group of Stelae known as the "Cippi of Horus" or 'Stelae of Horus on the crocodiles'. These types of Stelae were used to protect the ancient Egyptian people from dangerous animals such as crocodiles and snakes. The Magical Stela is one of the largest and most complete of this kind.
It is theorized that in the reign of Nectanebo II, a priest named Esatum traveled to the burial place of the Mnevis bulls at Heliopolis. There he noticed certain inscriptions that he thought were interesting and ordered them to be copied onto a large block of stone. There the Stela was created and stood for many years until Alexander the Great conquered the Persians in Egypt and it was brought to Alexandria.
For over two thousand years, the Stela was missing until it was discovered in a wall that was excavated in a Franciscan monastery. The Stela was then presented to Prince Metternich in 1828 by Muhammad 'Ali Pasha, the ruler of Egypt, before being purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art where it was known for many years as the Metternich Stela.
Description:
The Stela is a large block below, connected to a thinner block with a curved top. The piece was made from one huge block of fine grained, hard, gray-green stone made from greywacke.
The top portion of the Stela shows a disk of the sun that identifies Ra, the sun god of the ancient Egyptian religion. On each side of Ra are four baboons. On the far left of the baboons is the messenger god Thoth. On the far right of the baboons is the reigning pharaoh Nectanebo II bowing towards Ra.
The main portion of the relief is separated by the top portion with five lines of hieroglyphics. The center of the Stela portrays Horus as a child standing on crocodiles. Above his head is the face of Bes, who is the guardian of the newborn and childbirth. Horus is holding in each hand a serpent and scorpion, along with a lion and Oryx in either hand.
On the near left of Horus is Re'Horakhty, which is the combination of the two sky gods Horus and Re, standing on a serpent and surrounding both of them are two divine symbols. On the far left of the relief is Isis standing upon a serpent and on her left is the standard of the vulture goddess of the south. On the far right is again the god Thoth standing on a serpent and on his left is the standard of the serpent goddess of the north. Above the gods are the eyes of Horus, the sun and the moon.
The rest of the Stela is covered with hieroglyphics from top to bottom and also on both sides. These hieroglyphics document the stories of the gods and their experiences with poisonous animals. There are also many curses and spells for different types of sickness caused by these animals.
The Central Panel:
Horus stands in the middle of this panel, bravely holding scorpions, snakes, and antelopes to show his powers. He also stands on two crocodiles. Next to him are his 3 deities who are standing on coiled snakes. On his right stands Thoth (the god of wisdom and writing). He is shown with an Ibis head which identifies him. On Horus’s right stands the goddess Isis (His mother)

The Base:
Story behind the base.
When Isis was pregnant with Horus, she knew that he would be the one to avenge his father (Osiris).
After Horus was born, she took him to the marshes and they both hid fearing that the enemy would come to kill them both.
One day, the