Harpokrates is Greek for Horus the Child, and was oft portrayed as a naked boy with his finger to his mouth as if sucking on it. This was a typical Egyptian artistic convention for representing a child or youth. It is thought however, that the Greeks and Romans misunderstood this pose as a gesture of silence and therefore reinterpreted Harpocrates as the god of secrecy and confidentiality.
Child gods grew in popularity from the Third Intermediate Period onwards, rivaling even the most powerful and ancient gods, especially as temple offerings. Because of their profusion and many local forms, generally it is very difficult to assign precise identities to child gods, but here the double crown and characteristic side lock identify the god as Harpokrates, who was the son of Osiris and Isis. The royal crown symbolizes the union of Lower and Upper Egypt, and highlights Horus’ role as the legitimate ruler of the entire land and his direct association with the king.
