Gold Egyptian Gazelle Amulet

£ 550.00

A small, gold amulet of a gazelle from Ancient Egypt. The gazelle is shown in a mid-stride position, with the two sets of feet paired together. The back legs are slightly higher than the front, and it appears that the gazelle cranes the neck to stare behind him. Perhaps this cautious gaze indicates the gazelle’s recent flight from danger. The horns are straight and pleasingly equal, and the tail is carefully rendered into a delicate triangle.

Date: Circa 1550-1069 BC
Period: New Kingdom Period
Condition: Excellent condition.

SOLD

SKU: AH-168 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.

Amulets held different meanings, depending on their type or form. Small amulets depicting gods and goddesses seem to have induced the protective powers of the deity. On the other hand, small representations of anatomical features or creatures suggest that the wearer required protection over a specific body part, or that he/she desired the skills of a particular animal. Amulets depicting animals were very common in the Old Kingdom Period, whilst representations of deities gained popularity in the Middle Kingdom.

The gazelle was a small, brown, deer-like creature from southern Africa, which the Egyptians admired for its speed and elegance. It is thought that the Egyptians acquired gazelles from trade or tribute, and they were sometimes kept in the gardens of the Pharaoh.

Egypt is a land rich in gold, and ancient miners used traditional methods to harbour the natural resource. The hieroglyph representing gold was founded in the First Dynasty, but the earliest surviving gold artefacts come from around the 4th Millennium BC.

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

Weight 0.7 g
Dimensions L 1.0 cm
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