Romano-Egyptian Faience Phallus Amulet

£ 175.00

A fine Romano-Egyptian blue glazed faience amulet in the form of a phallus. The phallus is composed of a shaft, scrotum and two bands of pubic area above, detailed with carefully incised markings. A ribbed suspension loop sits at the top. The reverse of the amulet is smooth and unworked.

Date: Circa 1st - 3rd Century AD
Provenance: From a Home Counties, UK, 20th century collection.
Condition: Excellent condition. Some earthy encrustations, and wear to the reverse.

In stock

SKU: JW-21 Category: Tags: ,

Phallus amulets were regarded as bestowing protection, fertility, and divine preservation of the male sexual organ. It was also thought to promote regeneration and symbolise the strength of life. Egyptian faience was widely used for small objects from beads to small statues, and is found in both elite and popular contexts. It was the most common material for scarabs and other forms of amulets and was used in most forms of ancient Egyptian jewellery, as the glaze made it smooth against the skin.

To find out more about the use of faience in Ancient Egyptian culture please see our other relevant blog post: What is Egyptian Faience?

Weight 1.45 g
Dimensions W 1.2 x H 2 cm
Culture

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Faience

Region

Reference: For a similar item,The Penn Museum, Philadelphia, item 29-104-172.

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