Egyptian Turquoise Faience Amulet of Sekhmet

£ 995.00

An Egyptian amulet of a sitting, lion-headed goddess, made from turquoise faience. The lion-headed goddess, most likely the deity Sekhmet, is seated on a throne with her left arm in her lap, while her right arm reaches down towards her knee. She wears the royal wig, which has a plume between her feline ears, acting as a suspension loop. Between her hands she holds a papyrus sceptre, a typical feature depicted with the goddess. The facial features are typically feline, with a broad forehead and a flat, elongated snout.

Date: Circa 664-332 BC
Period: Late Period
Provenance: From the collection of Mr A.M. Ex Artemission, London SW5, UK. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity.
Condition: Very fine. Repaired at the waist.

SOLD

Product Code: ES-186
Category: Tags: ,

Sekhmet was the fierce goddess of the Memphite area, forming a powerful trio with her husband, the creator-god Ptah, and their son, Nerfertum. Sekhmet was goddess of the sun and war: she symbolised the scorching heat of the sun, and brought plague and pestilence. She was seen as the fiercest of warriors, and was the protector of the pharaohs. It was said that the desert was caused by her breath alone, and she was rendered as a lion because this big cat was the bravest hunter known to the Egyptians.

To discover more about amulets in the Ancient Egyptian world, please visit our relevant post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.

Weight 4.76 g
Dimensions L 1.7 x W 0.9 x H 4 cm
Egyptian Mythology

Sekhmet

Faience

Turquoise Faience

Region

North Africa

Reference: For similar: Bonhams Auction House, London, Antiquities, 21st April 2005, lot 102

You may also like…