amulet
- Description
-
Mould-made amuletic figure in glazed composition, representing Shu, kneeling on a small rectangular base, leaning against a small back pillar; raised hands above his head and wearing a sun-disk; features crudely indicated, without being too schematic; pointed pillar pierced widthwise, for suspension, at head level; light turquoise glaze; white paste; base slightly chipped; broken in two pieces glued back together .
- Production date
- 6thC BC (?)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 3.40 centimetres
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Thickness: 0.85 centimetres
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Width: 1.75 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Several of these amulets were discovered in Naukratis, almost all being quite to very schematic. Therefore it is often difficult to identify properly the deity represented. His attitude, kneeling with his hands raised on both sides of his head, relates to the gods Shu or Heh (on both types of amulets: Andrews 1994, 19 and 88-89; Herrmann et al. 2010, 51-52, type 20). Since their iconography can be very close, Herrmann prefers to not decide between both deities (Herrmann 2006, 88-92, Pl. XX-XXII). Such amulets are very common on Late Period settlements (Masson forthcoming). In the case of this specimen, the deity seems to have a sun-disc over his head and could be then identified with Shu.
Considering its context of discovery, it should be dated to the 26th dynasty. However, the registers of the McLean Museum & Art Gallery tend to allocate the Scarab Factory as a findspot for not only scarabs and scaraboids moulds, but also all types of amulets from Naukratis. Caution is therefore required for the dating and the findspot.
Andrews, C. 1994, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London.
Herrmann, C. 2006, Ägyptische Amulette aus Palästina/Israel Band III (Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis, Series Archaeologica 24), 2006.
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, Le quartier des prêtres sur la rive est du Lac Sacré à Karnak.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Fair
- Acquisition date
- 1888
- Department
- External
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 1987.439 (Accession Number)
