Amulets & Ushabtis

Bronze Amulets

Egyptian

originals

gift of: W.A.S. Sarjeant

date: Late Egyptian Period

provenance: purchased by donor

description: Two bronze amulets. Amulets were worn by the Egyptians for protection and good luck, and buried with the dead to ensure safe passage to the afterlife. (See also: Faience Amulets; Scorpion Amulet; Blue Glass Amulet.)

This amulet (top) may be Nefer-Atmu, the son of Ptah and Bast (see: The Cat Bastet) , who represented the power of the rising sun. Height 7 cm, width 1 cm, depth 2 cm.

The other amulet (bottom) represents Osiris, who came to be associated with death and the grave. Pharaohs (see also: Pharaoh Psammeticus II) were considered to be embodiments of Osiris. Height 8.5 cm, width 3 cm, depth 2 cm.