Origin: Israel Circa: 2700 BC to 1700 BC Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 7.8" (19.8cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Bronze Age, Canaanite Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Israel Circa: 2700 BC to 1700 BC Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 7.8" (19.8cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Bronze Age, Canaanite Medium: Terracotta   « Less

By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians. Based upon the dung beetle, this  More »

By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians. Based upon the dung beetle, this sacred creature forms a ball of dung around its semen and rolls it in a large ball over the sand dropping it into its burrow. The female lays her eggs on the ground and covers them with the excrement ball that is consumed by the larvae that emerge in the following days as if miraculously reborn. In the life cycle of the beetle, the Ancient Egyptians envisioned a microcosm of the daily rebirth of the sun. They imagined the ancient sun god Khepri was a great scarab beetle rolling the sun across the heavens. The scarab also became a symbol of the enduring human soul as well, hence its frequent appearance in funerary art. Scarabs of various materials form an important class of Egyptian antiquities. Though they first appeared in the late Old Kingdom (roughly 2575–2130 B.C.), scarabs remained rare until Middle Kingdom times (circa 1938-1600 B.C.) when they were fashioned in great numbers. While some were used as ornaments, others were purely amuletic in purpose. - (PF.0145)   « Less

The ancient kingdom of Saba ruled over the lands of southern Arabia, centered in modern day Yemen. Saba is perhaps better known as Sheba, the Hebrew word for the kingdom,  More »

The ancient kingdom of Saba ruled over the lands of southern Arabia, centered in modern day Yemen. Saba is perhaps better known as Sheba, the Hebrew word for the kingdom, whose famous Queen was recounted as having visited Solomon in the pages of the Old Testament. Biblical accounts speak of the wealth of this ancient civilization of traders and merchants, and modern archaeological excavations confirm these reports. Ruins of fortresses and walled towns are evident and remnants of their extensive irrigation system that turned the desert into a paradise still cover the land. Although gold and silver deposits were present, the chief source of their vast wealth was derived from their veritable monopoly of two of the most coveted materials in ancient times: frankincense and myrrh, resinous gums obtained from certain trees that only grow in Southern Arabia and were literally worth their weight in gold. There was not a temple or wealthy house in the ancient world, from Babylon to Rome, where one would not smell the fragrant scents of these incenses. In addition, a trade route that connected India to Egypt that passed through their capital of Marib was another major source of wealth. Perhaps their greatest accomplishment was the Great Dam of Marib, a monumental construction that brought water from the mountains both to the city and to the crop fields. The dam was in continual use (accounting for timely repairs) until the 6th Century A.D. and its ultimate destruction is detailed in the Koran as the end of the old world and a turning point in history. However, the civilization that created this wonder fell apart long before the damn did. In the 1st Century A.D., the Ptolemaic Greeks discovered a sea route from India directly to the port of Alexandria, eliminating Saba from this lucrative trade and ushering in the decline of Sabean prosperity. - (SF.118)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Ram Medium: Gold Condition: Extra Fine Khnum (Khnemu) "To Create." Egyptian ram god. Khnum was  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Ram Medium: Gold Condition: Extra Fine Khnum (Khnemu) "To Create." Egyptian ram god. Khnum was credited with creating life on a potter's wheel at the behest of the other gods. He was also said to control the annual inundation of the Nile, although the god Hapi physically generates the inundation. The goddesses Satis and Anuket assisted him in their supervisory role. His major cult center was on the Elephantine Island near the first cataract of the Nile (Near modern Aswan) where mummified rams sacred to Khnum have been found. He also had an important cult center at Esna, to the north of the first cataract. He was usually depicted inhuman form with a ram's head - the horns extending horizontally on either side of the head - often before a potter's wheel on which a naked human was being fashioned. - (LO.1396)   « Less

Origin: Turkey Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BCDimensions: 8.50" (21.6cm) high x 8" (20.3cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Neolithic Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Turkey Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BCDimensions: 8.50" (21.6cm) high x 8" (20.3cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Neolithic Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 10.50" (26.7cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium:  More »

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 1500 BC to 1250 BC Dimensions: 10.50" (26.7cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Late Bronze Age Medium: Terracotta   « Less

The amulet has the form of a standing sphynx. The face is that of a human female, with plain top of head and braided hair falling down the back and sides. A necklace appears  More »

The amulet has the form of a standing sphynx. The face is that of a human female, with plain top of head and braided hair falling down the back and sides. A necklace appears at the front over the throat. The body is that of a plump bovine with stubby legs and three grooves around the ankles. The tail curls and nearly reaches the ground. The wings are raised and marked for the feathers. There is a suspension hole through the middle of the head, and a whole was begun at the back of the body, but not continued. This is a work of Phoenician craftsmanship. It is of course derived from the Egyptian sphynx, but has been developed in Phoenicia to suit local taste and custom. It is in very good condition and is a rare item in this quality and of solid gold. - (OS.078 )   « Less

Terracotta Eros Flask - FF.052 Origin: Sinai/ Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 2.3" (5.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style:  More »

Terracotta Eros Flask - FF.052 Origin: Sinai/ Egypt Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 2.3" (5.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Ptolomeic Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Jericho Circa: 9000 BC to 6000 BC Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 10" (25.4cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Pre-historic

Origin: Jericho Circa: 9000 BC to 6000 BC Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high x 10" (25.4cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Pre-historic   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1300 BC to 900 BC Dimensions: 1.1" (2.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Scarab Medium: Steatite By far the most important amulet in ancient  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 1300 BC to 900 BC Dimensions: 1.1" (2.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Scarab Medium: Steatite By far the most important amulet in ancient Egypt was the scarab, symbolically as sacred to the Egyptians as the cross is to Christians. Based upon the dung beetle, this sacred creature forms a ball of dung around its semen and rolls it in a large ball over the sand dropping it into its burrow. The female lays her eggs on the ground and covers them with the excrement ball that is consumed by the larvae that emerge in the following days as if miraculously reborn. In the life cycle of the beetle, the Ancient Egyptians envisioned a microcosm of the daily rebirth of the sun. They imagined the ancient sun god Khepri was a great scarab beetle rolling the sun across the heavens. The scarab also became a symbol of the enduring human soul as well, hence its frequent appearance in funerary art. Scarabs of various materials form an important class of Egyptian antiquities. Though they first appeared in the late Old Kingdom (roughly 2575–2130 B.C.), scarabs remained rare until Middle Kingdom times (circa 1938-1600 B.C.) when they were fashioned in great numbers. While some were used as ornaments, others were purely amuletic in purpose. - (OS.033 )   « Less