amulet;
figure
- Description
-
Mould-made amuletic figure in glazed composition, representing a jackal-headed deity, likely Anubis or Wepwawet; standing on a small rectangular base, in striding pose with arms on his sides, against back-pillar; wearing striated kilt; relatively crude features with some incised details for shendyt short kilt and wig; back pillar pierced widthwise below shoulders'level, for suspension; light turquoise glaze well preserved; yellow core; chipped in various places (right hand, ears and nose broken off).
- Production date
- 6thC BC (?)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 3.90 centimetres
-
Length: 1.70 centimetres
-
Thickness: 0.80 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Anubis is present in Naukratis through several small amuletic figures made out of glazed composition, like this specimen, or copper alloy (Masson forthcoming). Anubis is often associated to Wepwawet (Upuaut) who is regarded in some Egyptian myths as Anubis son and with whom he is often confused in the late periods. These amulets might be related with the cult of Wepwawet, well attested in the nearby Sais which held a lot of influence over Naukratis (on various cults celebrated at Sais: Weiss 2012, 448-452).
On amulets of Anubis / Wepwawet see: Andrews 1994, 46-47; Herrmann et al. 2010, 36 (type 8).
Considering its context of discovery, it should be dated to the 26th dynasty. However, the registers of the Museum of Fine Arts tend to allocate the Scarab Factory as a findspot for not only scarabs, scaraboids and their moulds, but also all types of amulets from Naukratis. Caution is therefore required for the dating and the findspot. Let's note that the records written (or at least supervised by) Amelia Edwards mention the Scarab Factory as the findspot too.
Andrews, C. 1994, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London.
Herrmann, C., Staubli, T., Berger-Lober, S., Keel, O., Schönbächler, G. 2010, 1001 Amulett : altägyptischer Zauber, monotheisierte Talismane, säkulare Magie, Bibel+Orient-Museum, Liebefeld, Stuttgart.
Masson, A. forthcoming, ‘Naukratis: Egyptian offerings in context’, in M. Bergeron and A. Masson (eds.), Naukratis in Context II: Cults, Sanctuaries and Offerings. Proceedings of the Second Naukratis Project Workshop held at The British Museum, 22nd-23rd June 2013.
Weiss, K. 2012, Ägyptische Tier- und Götterbronzen aus Unterägypten: Untersuchungen zu Typus, Ikonographie und Funktion sowie der Bedeutung innerhalb der Kulturkontakte zu Griechenland, Ägypten und Altes Testament 81.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Rather fair, bit chipped
- Department
- External
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: P.5223 (Pottery & Porcelain Ledger No.)
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Miscellaneous number: RES.86.288a (Accession Number)
