Amulet of a Clenched Fist
Roman Period (30 BCE–395 CE)
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
1.3 × 0.8 × 0.5 cm (9/16 × 3/8 × 1/4 in.)
Classification
amulet
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
140812
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Ancient Egyptians had several terms for small objects like this, which we call “amulets.” Worn by the living and the dead, these charms were meant to bring protection, health, and good luck, ensuring the bearer’s well-being in both life and the afterlife. Body parts were a common subject for amulets because ancient Egyptians believed they would help the deceased be reborn in the afterlife with all their limbs. Many variations of hand amulets exist, showing hands open, attached to arms, or close...
About the Artist
Ancient Egyptian
Ancient Egyptian artists, a collective of highly skilled artisans spanning over three millennia from the Predynastic period (c. 6000–3150 BC) to the Roman era (30 BC–4th century AD), produced some of humanity's most enduring masterpieces. These anonymous craftsmen, often organized in state-sponsored workshops, lived in dedicated communities like Deir el-Medina near Luxor during the New Kingdom (c....