Ancient Egypt, Late Period Faience Neith's Amulet - 36 mm

Amulet depicting the goddess Neith in pale greenish-blue dove-blue faience. The goddess is a standing figure on a small pedestal, in a walking posture, arms along the body. She leans against a rear support, pierced by a suspension. In a tightly fitting long dress, the ends of which are emphasized by several horizontal lines at ankle height, she wears the red crown (Deshret) of Upper Egypt, of which only a part remains. The cult of Neith is documented already at the beginnings of pharaonic history and makes her one of the principal deities of ancient Egypt. Associated with the protective function for the deceased in the afterlife, she belongs to the four protectress goddesses of the Canopic jars. Her amulets had the purpose of placing the wearer under her protection and at the same time linking them with her martial power and divine authority. Her most important cult center was at Sais in the Nile Delta. In Esna she was also worshipped as the mother of the gods, particularly as the mother of Sobek. This tradition explains certain less commonly depicted motifs of the goddess, who suckles two young crocodiles, one at each breast. - Egypt, Old Kingdom, Late Period, 664-332 BC - Dimensions: 36 x 10 x 16 mm - Condition: Generally excellent, a part of the crown is missing; otherwise intact. - Literature: Simon Connor and Federica Facchetti, Amuleti Dell'Antico Egitto, 2016, pp. 126 and 127. : Carol Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, 1994, pp. 23, fig. 19b The item includes: - A sales invoice. - An authenticity certificate.

Estimate:£375.42

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