Origin: Egypt
Circa: 664 BC to 525 BC
Dimensions: 1.5" (3.8cm) high
Collection: Egyptian Antiquities
Style: 26th Dynasty
Medium: Carnelian
Condition: Extra Fine
In this tiny amulet, we see all of the coiled stregnth, ferocious repose, and exquisite musculature of the Nile Crocodile. The wearer perhaps wished to imbibe himself with the primordial vigor of this undenaibly powerful beast, or to ward off the approach of evil spirits with its imposing presence. Whatever the reason, the piece was obviously extremely important to whomever commisioned it- for rarely in the art of amulet-making do we encounter a piece of this meticulous and beautiful execution. The crocodile's legs bulge with muscle, his back is etched with the dry lumps of his spine. His whole body is lined with muscle, giving him a sense of agressive beauty. His eyes, set exquisitely beneath his bulging brow, are alive with fire and stregnth. The artist of this piece has infused in this crocodile something that our nature documentaries, with their high-definition cameras, can never capture. In him is an energy beyond the physical, a ferocity and power that extend beyond his body and razor sharp teeth, and into his eyes, his expression, and his emotion. The emotions we feel when staring into the eyes of this beast give us an idea of what its original owner must've felt. To hold it in our hands is to exude the same confidence, and the same suriety that our Ancient Egyptian ancestor felt while wearing it around his neck. - (FJ.1556)

Antiquities
Ancient Egyptian