Amulet: Head of Sakhmet
Unknown Artist
664–332 B.C.
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
H. 2.8 × W. 2.7 × D. 0.4 cm (1 1/8 × 1 1/16 × 3/16 in.)
Classification
Amulet, Aegis, Sakhmet
Period
Late Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lily S. Place, 1923
Accession Number
23.6.62
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver amulet depicts the head of Sakhmet the fierce lion-headed goddess in ancient Egypt as a protector against evil, a warrior deity, and a healer. Crafted during the Late Period664–332 B.C.), Dynasties 26–30, it measures just 2.8 cm high, perfect for wearing as a personal talisman around the neck or as part of jewelry. Such amulets were everyday safeguards, invoking Sakhmet's dual powers of destruction and restoration to shield the wearer from harm. Silver, a precious and rare metal in ancient Egypt, underscores the amulet's value, likely produced through lost-wax casting or ...