Amulet depicting a ram-headed god
Unknown Artist
664–332 B.C.
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
H. 5.1 × W. 1.2 × D. 1.6 cm (2 × 1/2 × 5/8 in.)
Classification
Amulet, god, ram-headed
Period
Late Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
Accession Number
26.7.891
Art Historical Context
This delicate faience amulet, crafted during Egypt's Late Period (664–332 B.C.), depicts a ram-headed god, a potent symbol of divine power and fertility. Standing just 5.1 cm tall, it exemplifies the intricate small-scale sculptures produced for personal devotion. Faience, a glazed composite of quartz, lime, and copper for its signature vibrant blue-green hue, was prized in ancient Egypt for mimicking precious stones like turquoise or lapis lazuli while being more accessible. This medium's glassy surface not only enhanced durability but also evoked the eternal Nile waters, aligning with themes...