St. Menas’ eulogia and representations of Horus in magical stelae: iconographic similarities and dissidences. Tuning up of an old debate

Abstract

This article rescues an old debate originated in the nineteenth century which aimed to derive the origin of the iconography of the Egyptian martyr St. Menas pilgrimflasks, from the image-type in the so called “Horus-on-the-crocodiles” magical stelae. Taking this controversy as a starting point, my aim is to examine more closely the iconography from the eulogia of the Egyptian saint for discerning possible iconographical and functional agreements and differences between both images.