Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.16400

    Small ancient brass figure

    Date
    25 May 1692
    Creator
    Henry Hunt (British) , Artist
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    p72
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 151mm
    width (page): 128mm
    Subject
    Description
    Drawing of a small brass figure holding a cockerel in one arm and a pot in another, signed by Henry Hunt and described as 'an Egyptian God'. This object was brought by Edmond Halley to a meeting on 25 May 1692, at which its identity was variously conjectured: Halley thought it was an Egyptian god, Thomas Henshaw a figure of Aesculapius, and Sir John Hoskins one of Priapus.
    Transcription
    'an Egyptian God'
    Signed 'HNT'
    Transcribed by the Making Visible project
    Object history
    At the meeting on 25 May 1692, 'Halley produced a small brass Image having a cock in one hand and a water Pott in the other, it was said to be Egyptian. Mr Henshaw supposed it to be an Image of Esculapius, Mr Hunt had drawn the figure thereof, which was ordered to be kept by him. Sr John Hoskins supposed it might be the Image of Priapus' (JBO/9/ 86).
    Related fellows
    Thomas Henshaw (1618 - 1700, British) , Author, Soldier, Diplomat, Author
    John Hoskyns (1634 - 1705, British) , Natural philosopher
    Edmond Halley (1656 - 1742, British) , Astronomer
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Africa
          > Egypt
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