Amulet of a Hippopotamus
Predynastic Period, Naqada II–III (about 3500–3000 BCE)
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
3.8 × 2.3 × 5.8 cm (1 1/2 × 15/16 × 2 5/16 in.)
Classification
amulet
Department
Arts of Africa
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141090
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Made around 5000 years ago, this hippopotamus amulet is one of the oldest objects in the Art Institute’s collections. 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. This object was made before writing existed in ancient Egypt, so our guesses about its function come from our knowledge about...
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....