Egyptian Faience Sekhmet Amulet

£ 1,100.00

An extremely fine and well-preserved double-sided amulet in the shape of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, modelled in bright turquoise faience and dating to the Egyptian Late Period-Ptolemaic Period. The goddess is portrayed standing on a small plinth, in her typical pose, with the left foot extended before the right, adding a sense of movement to the amulet. There is a suspension loop on the top for attachment. 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.

Date: Circa 664-30 BC
Period: Late Period-Ptolemaic Period
Condition: Extremely fine, with some signs of ageing and encrustations to the surface.

SOLD

SKU: FP-251 Category: Tags: , ,

Sekhmet was the fierce goddess of the Memphite area, forming a powerful trio with her husband, the creator-god Ptah, and their son, Nerfertum. Sekhmet was goddess of the sun and war: she symbolised the scorching heat of the sun, and brought plague and pestilence. She was seen as the fiercest of warriors, and was the protector of the pharaohs. It was said that the desert was caused by her breath alone, and she was rendered as a lion because this big cat was the bravest hunter known to the Egyptians. Her destructive wrath could be placated, however, by her priestesses performing annual rituals before statues of the goddess. This has led to many images of Sekhmet being preserved.

To discover more about Egyptian gods, please visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Egyptian Gods

Weight 6.5 g
Dimensions H 5.0 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Faience

Region

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum 74.51.4492

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