This bust was originally part of an idol of a goddess, identifiable by her diadem which is designed as two concentric circlets as well as by her multi-stranded necklace  More »

This bust was originally part of an idol of a goddess, identifiable by her diadem which is designed as two concentric circlets as well as by her multi-stranded necklace consisting of a series of beads. She would have originally been shown standing with her feet together on an integral plinth which may have been inscribed. She is wearing a tightly fitting, form-revealing sheath which in keeping with concerns for modesty suppresses the forms of her breasts. Her arms are bent at a right angle at the elbow and held out in front of her body giving one the impression that she was holding an attribute of some kind in her hands   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. Sekhmet, along with her husband the creator- god Ptah and their son Nerfertum, was part of the powerful trio of deities that protected Ancient Memphis. She was a sun goddess, embodying the scorching, burning, destructive heat of the sun. Fierce goddess of war, the destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris, she was represented as having the head of a lioness and the body of a female human. Like the sun, her temper was uncontrollable. In the legend of Ra and Hathor, Sekhmet's anger became so great, she would have destroyed all of mankind if Ra had not taken pity on us and made her drunk. - (CK.0216)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. - (CK.0217)   « 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.In the 1st Century A.D., the Ptolemaic Greeks discovered a sea route from India directly to the port of Alexandria, eliminating Saba from her lucrative trade and ushering in the decline of Sabean prosperity.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .5" (1.3cm) wide Catalogue: Faience Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .5" (1.3cm) wide Catalogue: Faience Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. - (CK.0218)   « 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 passing through the capital of Marib was another major source of wealth. In the 1st Century A.D., the Ptolemaic Greeks discovered a sea route from India directly to the port of Alexandria, eliminating Saba from her lucrative trade and ushering in the decline of Sabean prosperity.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .3" (0.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .3" (0.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. The ibis was a sacred bird in Ancient Egyptian mythology, most closely identified with the moon god Thoth, the messanger of the sun god Ra, who is often represented as an ibis-headed man or as a baboon. The name “Thoth” is actually the Greek term used to refer to this deity, whom the Greeks closely identified with Hermes, their messenger to the gods. Thoth, like Hermes, was credited as the inventor of astronomy, writing, and mathmatics. He presided over scribes and knowledge, as has been described in ancient text as a conciliator among the gods whose words were able to bring order to the warring factions of Egypt. In this charming amulet, Thoth is represented as an ibis-headed man standing with one leg forward upon a low rectangular base with his arms clutched against his sides. It is possible that this amulet was once worn by a scribe who hoped to invoke the favor of this powerful deity. - (CK.0219)   « Less

This striking camel is a shrine piece or religious artefact from the ancient kingdom of Saba which ruled over the lands of southwestern Arabia, centered in modern day Yemen.  More »

This striking camel is a shrine piece or religious artefact from the ancient kingdom of Saba which ruled over the lands of southwestern Arabia, centered in modern day Yemen. Technically, the Sabeans were one of four major powers in this area, also including the Minaeans, the Qatabanians and the Hadramites, but the peoples as a whole became subsumed as a single entity by the middle of the first millennium BC. Saba is perhaps better known as Sheba, whose famous Queen was recounted as having visited Solomon in the pages of the Old Testament. The wealth of the kingdom is legendary, and is primarily attributable to Saba’s position at the crossroads of the ancient world, receiving consignments (particularly of incense) from all across the Middle East, Asia and the Mediterranean basin. The city of Marib was also in an ideal position to control the trade route between India and Egypt, although this lucrative venture was cut short in the 1st century AD following the foundation of a nautical route from India directly to the port of Alexandria.   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: .875" (2.2cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: .875" (2.2cm) high x .375" (1.0cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. - (CK.0220)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .45" (1.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium:  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 664 BC to 30 BC Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high x .45" (1.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Antiquities Style: Late Dynastic/Ptolemaic Period Medium: Faience The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities. While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious beliefs. - (CK.0221)   « Less