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Ancient Egypt · c. 3100 BCE – 400 CE

Sacred animals

Meaning

Each animal embodied a god or a quality. The frog stood for fertility and rebirth (Heqet), the fly for persistence and valour, the falcon for Horus and kingship, the baboon for Thoth, the cat for Bastet, the crocodile for Sobek, the hare for alertness, the fish for rebirth and protection from drowning, and the cobra for royal protection (Wadjet).

Intent

Wearers borrowed the animal's strength or its god's favour, and sometimes tamed a danger by wearing its image. Crocodile and snake amulets repelled those very creatures. Gold flies were awarded as military decorations for courage, and fish amulets were tied into children's hair against drowning.

Significance

Animal amulets reveal the Egyptian view of divinity as immanent in nature. They include some of the oldest Egyptian amulets, from Predynastic graves, and the award of 'the gold of valour' flies, as to Queen Ahhotep, shows amulets doubling as honours.

History

Simple animal amulets of shell, bone and stone appear from the Badarian and Naqada periods (c. 4500–3100 BCE). They diversify in the Old and Middle Kingdoms, and in the Late Period are mass-produced alongside the animal cults, when millions of animals were mummified as offerings.

Making yours
Mostly 0.5–3 cm and often very stylised. Faience, carnelian, amethyst or gold. Suspension loop on the back or a lengthwise bore.
Ancient Egypt: the tradition

Amulets appear in Egyptian graves before writing, in the Badarian and Naqada cultures of the fifth and fourth millennia BCE, as shells, stones and simple animal shapes. With the Old Kingdom the repertoire grew into a systematic vocabulary of hieroglyph signs, gods and animals, and by the New Kingdom the Book of the Dead prescribed which amulet went where on the mummy. Mass production in faience from open moulds put them within reach of almost everyone. The Late and Ptolemaic periods (664–30 BCE) are the peak of variety, when a single mummy might carry dozens. The tradition outlived the pharaohs, feeding Graeco-Roman magical gems, Coptic Christianity and, through Phoenician traders, the whole Mediterranean. Flinders Petrie's 1914 catalogue counted 275 types.

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Frog AmuletFrog AmuletEgypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18 · c. 1380–1330 BCESeal Amulet in the form of a Lion's HeadSeal Amulet in the form of a Lion's HeadMesopotamia, Iraq · 3800–3500 BCEBull's-Head AmuletBull's-Head AmuletEgypt, Predynastic (5000–2950 BCE), Naqada II–III (3650–3000 BCE) · c. 3500–2950 BCEAmulet Seal in the Form of a BullAmulet Seal in the Form of a BullMesopotamia, Sumerian, Iraq, Early Bronze Age I (c. 3300–3000 BCE) · c. 3250 BCEAmulet of a Ram-Headed DeityAmulet of a Ram-Headed DeityEgypt, Third Intermediate (1069–715 BCE), Dynasty 22 or later · c. 945–715 BCEFly AmuletFly AmuletEgypt, Middle Kingdom (2040–1648 BCE) · 2040–1648 BCERam AmuletRam AmuletEgypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) · 305–30 BCEAmulet of a ShrewAmulet of a ShrewEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE) · 715–332 BCEAmulet of a Walking BaboonAmulet of a Walking BaboonEgypt, First Intermediate period (2123–2040 BCE) · 2123–2040 BCEAmulet of a BaboonAmulet of a BaboonEgypt · Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 21–25 (1070–656 BCE)Crocodile amulet, black steatite, Egypt, Late to Roman PeriodCrocodile amulet, black steatite, Egypt, Late to Roman PeriodEgypt · c. 664 BC - 200 ADAmulet of two lion's claws in a silver mount strung on a leather cord, Nubia (Egypt or Sudan), 19th centuryAmulet of two lion's claws in a silver mount strung on a leather cord, Nubia (Egypt or Sudan), 19th centuryNubia · 1850-1899Seal Amulet Decorated with a HippopotamusSeal Amulet Decorated with a HippopotamusEgypt · New Kingdom, ca. 1386–1347 BCEFigure of baboon on a basket and with a pillar ( shebet offering)Figure of baboon on a basket and with a pillar ( shebet offering)Memphite Region · Late Period, 664–332 BCEBanebdjed, depicted with four ram headsBanebdjed, depicted with four ram headsEgyptian late period · 664–332 BC Period: Late Period Dynasty: Dynasty 27–30Bull AmuletBull AmuletEgyptian 19th dynasty · circa 1295 date QS:P571,+1295-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1185 B.C. Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside Dynasty: DynastCrocodile amuletCrocodile amuletEgyptian New Kingdom · circa 1295 date QS:P571,+1295-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1070 B.C. Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside Dynasty: DynastHawk; FalconHawk; FalconEgyptian Middle Kingdom · between 1976 and 1794 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1976-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1794-00-00T00:00:00Z/Khonsu FalconKhonsu FalconEgyptian third intermediate period · between 1070 and 664 BC (Third Intermediate)LionLionGreco-Roman Egypt · 332 BC (Greco-Roman)Frog Seal Amulet with an Ankh Hieroglyph on theFrog Seal Amulet with an Ankh Hieroglyph on thePalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1352 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Frog on a lotus pad, perhaps a weightFrog on a lotus pad, perhaps a weightEgyptian 18th dynasty · circa 1550 date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1295 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18String of 7 fly amuletsString of 7 fly amuletsEgyptian 17th dynasty · circa 1600 date QS:P571,+1600-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1070 B.C. Period: Second Intermediate Period–New KingdomHippopotamus amuletHippopotamus amuletEgyptian predynastic period · circa 4500 date QS:P571,+4500-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –4000 B.C. (?) Period: Predynastic PeriodUraeus AmuletUraeus AmuletEgyptian 21st dynasty · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –945 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynaVulture and falcon amuletVulture and falcon amuletEgyptian first intermediate period · circa 2150 date QS:P571,+2150-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2050 B.C. Period: Late Old Kingdom-First Intermediate Pematrix to amuletmatrix to amuletEgypt · 1927Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il cobra menqebit"Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the menqebit cobra " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il cobra menqebit"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatFish amuletFish amuletEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1950 date QS:P571,+1950-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1804 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12Fly amuletFly amulet664–380 B.C. Period: Late Period Dynasty: Dynasty 26–29FrogFrogEgyptian 26th dynasty · 688–525 B.C. Period: Late Period, Saite Dynasty: Dynasty 26Ram's-head AmuletRam's-head AmuletEgyptian 25th dynasty · circa 712–664 B.C. Period: Kushite Period Dynasty: Dynasty 25Design Amulet with a Hippopotamus (? ) Head on the Back Pierced for Stringing, and a Left-facing Monkey as the DeviceDesign Amulet with a Hippopotamus (? ) Head on the Back Pierced for Stringing, and a Left-facing Monkey as the DeviceEgyptian 8th dynasty · circa 2150 date QS:P571,+2150-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2100 B.C. Period: First Intermediate Period Dynasty: DynAmulet depicting a baboon title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a baboon " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a baboon " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un babbuino"Amulet depicting a baboon title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a baboon " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a baboon " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un babbuino"between 722 and 30 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0030-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LateRecumbent Lion from a BraceletRecumbent Lion from a BraceletEgyptian 15th dynasty · circa 1648 date QS:P571,+1648-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1540 B.C. Period: Second Intermediate Period Dynasty: DyFragment d'amuletteFragment d'amuletteBelgiumAmulet from EgyptAmulet from EgyptEgyptBaboon, jewellery, babian amulet from SudanBaboon, jewellery, babian amulet from SudanSudanVulture and Double Snake Amulet of TutankhamunVulture and Double Snake Amulet of TutankhamunTutankhamunAmulets of Ibises, Birmingham Museum and Art GalleryAmulets of Ibises, Birmingham Museum and Art GalleryartHistoire de l'art dans l'antiquité- Égypte, Assyrie, Perse, Asie Mineure, Grece, Etrurie, Rome (1882) (14781450712)Histoire de l'art dans l'antiquité- Égypte, Assyrie, Perse, Asie Mineure, Grece, Etrurie, Rome (1882) (14781450712)Egyptian 13th dynastyAmulet of Darius the Great from EgyptAmulet of Darius the Great from EgyptEgyptian 27th dynastyShowcase Nubian objectsShowcase Nubian objectsEgyptEgypte louvre 035 pendentifEgypte louvre 035 pendentifFrog AmuletFrog AmuletEgypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18 · c. 1540–1296 BCEFalcon Breast OrnamentFalcon Breast OrnamentEgypt, Third Intermediate (1069–715 BCE), Dynasties 21–22 · 1000–900 BCEFly AmuletFly AmuletEgypt, Middle Kingdom (2040–1648 BCE) · 2040–1648 BCEBaboon-Falcon Hybrid AmuletBaboon-Falcon Hybrid AmuletEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE) · 715–332 BCEAmulet of a HippopotamusAmulet of a HippopotamusEgypt · Predynastic Period, Naqada II–III (about 3500–3000 BCE)Ram amulet, blue-green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic PeriodRam amulet, blue-green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic PeriodEgypt · c. 664 BC - 30 BCFemale Monkey Holding Its BabyFemale Monkey Holding Its BabyEgypt · Middle Kingdom, ca. 1981–1802 B.C.Apis BullApis BullEgyptian late period · between 664 and 332 BC (Late Period)Frog AmuletFrog AmuletEgyptian 19th dynasty · circa 1295 date QS:P571,+1295-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1185 B.C. Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside Dynasty: DynastFrogFrogEgyptian New Kingdom · between 1550 and 1185 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1185-00-00T00:00:00Z/Hawk; FalconHawk; FalconEgyptian Middle Kingdom · between 1976 and 1794 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1976-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1794-00-00T00:00:00Z/Squatting BaboonSquatting BaboonGreco-Roman Egypt · 332 BC (Greco-Roman Period)Frog Seal Amulet with a Sa Hieroglyph on theFrog Seal Amulet with a Sa Hieroglyph on thePalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1353 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Frog on a lotus pad, perhaps a weightFrog on a lotus pad, perhaps a weightEgyptian 18th dynasty · circa 1550 date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1295 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18Lion amuletLion amuletEgyptian 17th dynasty · circa 1635 date QS:P571,+1635-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1458 B.C. Period: Second Intermediate Period–Early New KHippopotamus amuletHippopotamus amuletEgyptian predynastic period · circa 3850 date QS:P571,+3850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2960 B.C. Period: Predynastic Period

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