Egyptian Glazed Faience Amulet of Nefertem

$1,642.82

A vivid glazed amulet, made in turquoise faience, of the god Nefertem. He is depicted standing, in the quintessential pose of Ancient Egyptian amulets, with his arms by his side and one leg forward in mid-stride. He wears a short kilt and is bare chested. Upon his head he wears a black tripartite wig and a large open lotus flower with two protruding feathers, which is his defining attribute. The amulet as a whole is heavily glazed.

Date: Circa 1070– 332 BC
Period: Third Intermediate Period - Late Period
Condition: Very fine. Repaired to the legs and head, at the knees and lotus flower respectively.

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SKU: AH-671 Category: Tags: ,

Nefertem was a youthful god, depicted as a young man and associated most often with the blue lotus flower. He was a god with origins from the Old Kingdom but grew in popularity in the New Kingdom. In one myth, it was believed that he was created from the primeval waters of chaos (Nun), an important element from Egyptian creation myths. In other myths, he emerged from the lotus flower. Although the two stories were interconnected as shown by his epithets, which included ‘the great lotus flower who emerges from Nun’. Nefertem thus became associated with the lotus’ flowers properties, as a plant that closes its petals at night and blooms in the day. It was a flower that was considered regenerative and associated with re-birth.

Nefertem was also known as the son of Ptah and Sekhmet/Bastet and can sometimes be represented as a youthful god with a lion’s head, instead of the lotus flower. Together with his mother and father he formed the Memphis Triad.

Weight 16.2 g
Dimensions W 1.9 x H 9.2 cm
Country

Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Faience

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Region

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