Amulet in the Form of a Falcon
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850–1775 B.C.
Medium
Lapis lazuli
Dimensions
H. 1.2 × W. 0.9 × D. 0.4 cm (1/2 × 3/8 × 3/16 in.)
Classification
Amulet, falcon
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1904
Accession Number
04.18.30
Art Historical Context
This delicate amulet, carved in the shape of a falcon hails from Egypt's Middle Kingdom (ca. 1850–1775 B.C.), specifically the late 12th Dynasty to early 13th Dynasty. just 1.2 cm high, it was crafted from lapis lazuli—a, vibrant blue stone imported from distant Afghanistan and prized by ancient Egyptians for its celestial hue, evoking the heavens and the divine. Such small-scale sculptures were not mere jewelry but powerful talismans, worn carried to invoke protection in daily life and the afterlife. The falcon form symbolizes Horus, the sky god and protector of pharaohs, whose keen eyes and...