Object Description
A very fine ancient Egyptian amulet, formed from a bright blue faience, in the form of the god Maahes. He is shown striding forwards, with his left leg placed in front of his right on the flat, rectangular, integral base. His arms are by his side, with his fists clenched. He wears a short shendyt kilt, with the folds of his drapery rendered with short lines, but is otherwise nude. His flat stomach, extending from his bare chest, has been detailed with a long indentation, representing a navel. The deity has been depicted with a lion’s head, with typically feline features, such as a broad forehead, inset, almond-shaped eyes with large, rounded pupils, and a flat, elongated snout. The tripartite wig, with its front locks falling over each shoulder, is surmounted by an Atef crown, composed of the Hedjet crown, also known as the White Crown of Upper Egypt, with large, curling ostrich feathers to each side. The Hedjet crown is conveyed as a tall, striated, conical headpiece. To the reverse, Maahes leans on a supporting, dorsal column, perforated horizontally through the centre for suspension.
Date: Circa 664–332 BC
Period: Late Period