Osiris. Dimensions: H. 14.9 cm (5 7/8 in.); W. 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in.); D. 4.6 cm (1 13/16 in.)H. (with tang): 18.1 cm (7 1/8 in.). Date: 664-30 B.C..Osiris, foremost of the Egyptian funerary gods and ruler of the underworld, stands upright in a close-fitting mummiform garment. The garment has a prominent stiff upper edge along the back of the neck, a feature that occurs with some regularity on this garment, but one with an unclear meaning. Two streamers drape down the back of the garment. His hands emerge from long vertical slits in the cloak, which are visible on the chest. The god holds the royal crook and flail with his hands poised asymmetrically. The base is inscribed.In general, Osiris statuettes were some of the most abundant temple offerings in Egypt by the first millennium B.C., reflecting both the god's importance and changing cult practices that spurred the wide-scale dedication of deity statuettes. Many statues of Osiris were offered in temples and shrines belonging to him,