Ancient Egyptian Blue Faience Pataikos Amulet

£ 495.00

A fine ancient Egyptian blue faience amulet displaying the dwarf-god ‘Pataikos’. He is portrayed standing on a rectangular shaped plinth with his arms in a bent position holding on to his stomach. His legs appear to be slightly bent outwards and his head is slightly large in comparison with his body, as is typical of his presentation. There is a suspension loop for attachment to the rear of the neck, now blocked.

Date: Circa 664-332 BC
Period: Late Period
Condition: Good condition. Minor chip to left foot and earthy encrustations

In stock

SKU: CFF-48 Category: Tags: , ,

The god Pataikos is so-called after a passage in Herodotus, which describes the protection-possessing power of a Phoenician dwarf. He was known as the son of Ptah, the craftsman’s god. In Old kingdom scenes depicting daily life, dwarfs were always present among the workers in precious metal workshops. Pataikos became very popular from the New Kingdom onwards, often shown holding snakes, making them harmless to people and children, and therefore was thought to provide protection against snakes and crocodiles.
The ancient Egyptians wore amulets alongside other pieces of jewellery. Amulets were decorative, but also served a practical purpose, being considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many amulets have been found inside the wrappings of mummies, as they were used to prepare the deceased for the afterlife.

Weight 4.2 g
Dimensions L 3.2 x W 1.3 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Faience

Region

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, item 44.4.34

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