Ancient Egyptian Turquoise Eye of Horus Amulet

£ 125.00

A fine ancient Egyptian turquoise faience amulet in the shape of wedjat, more commonly known as the Eye of Horus. One side is decorated with protruding details of the pupil and brow in black faience. The other side is smooth and undecorated. The amulet is perforated longitudinally for suspension.

Date: 1550 BC - 664 BC
Period: Third Intermediate Period to Late Period
Provenance: The property of a deceased female collector, UK, bought from the 1930’s-70s.
Condition: Fine condition. The amulet is intact with some earthly encrustation to the surface and inside the suspension hole.

SOLD

SKU: SK-141 Category: Tag:

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 0.84 g
Dimensions L 1.1 x W 1.3 x H 0.4 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Faience

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Region

Reference: For a similar item, National Museums Liverpool, item LIV.2016.29.21h

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