Egyptian Faience Amulet of Shu

£ 110.00

An Ancient Egyptian amulet in the form of the god Shu, made from a turquoise faience. He is depicted kneeling on a rectangular base, with both of his arms raised to hold a sun disk over his head, a common depiction of the god. The deity has been rendered in a highly stylistic manner, very schematically, with rectangular knees and crude facial features. He is supported by a column behind him, perforated horizontally for suspension.

Date: Circa 664–332 BC
Period: Late Period
Provenance: From the H.M. Barker private collection, England, U.K.
Condition: Very fine condition. Slight earthly encrustations to the surface. Minor chips, surface pitting, and discolouration as consistent with its age. Remnants of a blue adhesive used for mounting by previous owner to the reverse.

In stock

SKU: CF-94 Category: Tag:

For the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were not only decorative but also considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many amulets have been found inside the wrapping of mummies to ensure a safe journey into the afterlife, but amulets were also used by the living for protection or in order to have their wishes granted. Amulets, depending on their type or form, had different meanings, with small amulets depicting the gods, whether in a human or animal form, thought to have induced protective powers over the wearer.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Shu was the primeval god of light and air, personifying the wind and the earth’s atmosphere. Created by Atum, and husband to Tefnut, he was father to Nut and Geb, grandfather to Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys, and great-grandfather to Horus and Anubis. Closely associated with the principle of life, he marked the separation between night and day, between the living and the dead. This kneeling pose, a common depiction of the god, embodied his role as the division between the different realms. It is believed that his children, Nut (the goddess of the sky) and Geb (the god of the Earth), were infatuated with each other. Shu intervened, and held Nut above his head to separate the pair: in doing so, he created the atmosphere and the conditions required for life. In amulets, such as with this fine example, Shu kneels with his arms raised to perform this exploit, holding a sun disk over his head, representing the sky.

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

Weight 1.86 g
Dimensions L 1 x W 0.8 x H 2.2 cm
Culture

Region

Faience

Egyptian Mythology

Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item RES.86.332

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