Ancient Egyptian Green Faience Wedjat Amulet

£ 195.00

A fine Ancient Egyptian green faience ‘wedjat’ amulet, more commonly known as the ‘Eye of Horus’. The front displays linear carvings of the different eye components, each holding its own value. The eyebrow, here rendered with deep groove, represents thought; the pupil stands for sight; the triangle between the pupil is hearing, whereas the white of the eye is smell; the tail represents taste; and the teardrop is touch. The amulet is perforated longitudinally for suspension, whilst the reverse remains unworked.

Date: Circa 1070 BC - 2nd century BC
Period: Third Intermediate - Late Period
Provenance: From the 'Mendry' collection of Egyptian amulets bought by the deceased gentleman whilst serving with T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) in Egypt during World War I.
Condition: Fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: MG-341 Category: Tags: , ,

The Egyptians wore amulets alongside other pieces of jewellery. They were decorative, but also served a practical purpose, being considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many of the amulets have been found inside the wrappings of mummies, as they were used to prepare the deceased for the afterlife.

Horus was one of the most significant Ancient Egyptian deities, most commonly depicted with the head of a falcon, and the body of a man. He was a sun and moon deity, with his right eye thought to represent the sun and the left the moon. The eye of Horus, also known as ‘Wedjat’, was an ancient symbol of protection, particularly for the afterlife, and was also used to deflect evil. For this reason, it was often worn or hung on the deceased at burial. This symbol was highly influential in Egyptian life, with ancient sailors painting the image on the bow of their vessels to ward off evil.

To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings: Ancient Egyptian Gods.

Weight 1.9 g
Dimensions L 2.1 x H 2 cm
Culture

Region

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Faience

Glaze

Reference: For a similar item please see, The British Museum, object EA7312