Amulet in the form of the god Osiris

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 2
IIIF

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At A Glance

  • Period

    1550-1204 BCE
  • Geography

    Egypt
  • Material

    Red jasper and gilt
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 7.1 x 1.9 x 2.5 cm (2 13/16 x 3/4 x 1 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1908.55
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1908.55

Object Details

  • Label

    Small amulets made of faience, stone, ceramic, metal, or glass were common personal possessions in ancient Egypt. They were most frequently fashioned in the form of gods and goddesses or of animals sacred to them. Amulets were believed to give their owners magical protection from a wide variety of ills and evil forces, including sickness, infertility, and death in childbirth. They were often provided with loops so they could be strung and worn as a necklace. Some amulets were made to place on the body of the deceased to protect the soul in the hereafter.
    Deities and animals represented in the group displayed here are among the subjects most favored for amulets. Taweret, the hippopotamus-headed goddess, and Bes, the dwarf god wearing tall plumes, protected women during childbirth. Cats often symbolized Bastet, a goddess of fertility. Other deities include Sakhmet, the lioness-headed goddess; the ram-headed Khnum, god of creation; and Thoth, god of wisdom, appearing as an ape or vervet monkey. Amulets specifically intended to protect the soul after death often depict Anubis, the jackal-headed god of the underworld, or Duamutef, the jackal-headed son of Horus, who protected the stomach.
  • Provenance

    To 1908
    Maurice Nahman (1868-1948), Cairo, Egypt, to 1908 [1]
    From 1908 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Maurice Nahman, Cairo, in 1908 [2]
    From 1920
    Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
    Notes:
    [1] See Miscellaneous List, S.I. 54, 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

    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

    Maurice Nahman (1868-1948) (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    Egypt
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Jewelry and Ornament
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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