Taweret amulet
Unknown Artist
664–30 B.C.
Medium
Lapis lazuli, gold
Dimensions
H. 3.5 cm (1 3/8 in.); W. 0.8 cm (5/16 in.); D. 1.1 cm ( 7/16 in.)
Classification
Amulet, Taweret
Period
Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.8.274
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Taweret amulet, from vibrant lapis lazuli inlaid with gold during Egypt's Late Period to Ptolemaic (664–30 B.C.), exemplifies the enduring tradition of protective jewelry in ancient Egyptian culture. Measuring just 3.5 cm high, its petite scale suggests it was worn as a personal talisman, likely suspended from a necklace or bracelet. Lapis lazuli, a stone imported from distant Afghanistan, carried celestial symbolism, while gold evoked the divine flesh of the gods, enhancing the amulet's potency. Taweret, the fierce hippopotamus goddess depicted here, was a beloved protector of...