Superior Glaze Egyptian Djed Amulet

£ 140.00

A mottled green faience glazed amulet in the form of the Djed pillar. It features a piercing through the middle of the back pillar for suspension. The glaze is rich and strong, giving a marble-like finish across the piece. The decorative incisions on the face on the pillar demonstrate the craftsman’s careful attention to detail.

Date: Circa 664 - 332 BC
Period: Late Dynastic Period
Condition: Fine condition; some wear due to age.

SOLD

SKU: AS-828 Category:

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.

The Djed pillar amulet was one of the most common of all those placed on the mummy. A number of them could be strung around the lower torso, or placed singly on the upper chest or around the neck. The Djed pillar symbolized stability and endurance. Its form was said to represent the pole around which grain was tied, but it later became the representation of the backbone of the god, Osiris.

A spell in the Book of the Dead activates such an amulet. It says:

‘Raise yourself up Osiris! You have your backbone once more, O weary-hearted One; you have your vertebrae!’

Weight 2.0 g
Dimensions H 3.0 cm
Culture

Region

Glaze

Faience

Country

Reference: For similar examples see Carol Andrews, 'Amulets of Ancient Egypt' (London 1994, pp82-83, fig 84)