Red jasper amulet of tyet
Unknown Artist
664–304 BCE
Medium
Jasper, red
Dimensions
H.: 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Gold and Silver
Culture & Period
Egyptian · Late Dynastic
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.4451
Art Historical Context
This delicate red jasper amulet known as the Tyet or "Knot of Isis,"ails from Late Dynastic Egypt (664–304 BCE), a of political fragmentation and cultural continuity before the Ptolemaic era. Carved from vibrant red jasper—a stone prized for its blood-like symbolizing life force and protection—the amulet stands just 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall, small enough to wear as jewelry or place in a tomb. In ancient Egyptian belief, the Tyet motif, resembling a knotted cloth, invoked the goddess Isis's protective powers, safeguarding the wearer in life and the afterlife against evil and illness. Crafted with ...