Amulet of a goddess, perhaps Sakhmet

Object Details

• Label

  This is an amulet in the form of a striding female deity whose image combines the body of a woman with the head of a lioness. She wears an ankle-length sheath gown and tripartite wig; on her head is a sun disk with uraeus, the cobra-like serpent representing the radiance of the sun god.

  The amulet depicts either the goddess Sakhmet or the goddess Bastet. Sakmet, a lion-headed goddess, was a symbol of power and protection for the Egyptian king. Bastet was the feline-headed, benevolent counterpart of Sakhmet. If no accompanying inscription identifies the figure, as in the case of this amulet, it can be difficult to tell which goddess is represented.

• Provenance

  To 1906-1907

  Unidentified owner, Egypt, to 1906-1907 [1]

  From 1906-1907 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Egypt in from an unidentified owner the winter of 1906-1907 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1850, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

  Art of Dynastic Egypt (December 15, 1976 to September 22, 1977)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Sakhmet, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Saite Dynasty 26 (664 - 525 BCE), Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1075 - 656 BCE), Faience, Ancient Egyptian Art, Protection

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry

• On View

  Yes