Nehebkau Amulet
Ancient Egyptian · Late Period, Dynasty 26–30 (664–332 BCE) · Art Institute of Chicago
Guide
Adjust the guideNew to it · Medium
Looking for this guide.
From the museum
Small-scale Egyptian figurines, known as amulets, were thought to promote health and good luck. Amulets were such an important part of Egyptian religious beliefs that they were worn by both the living and the dead. They could be mounted on rings or strung as bracelets or necklaces and were often placed among a mummy's wrappings to secure the deceased’s rebirth and well-being in the afterlife. Many varieties of amulets survived, including figures of deities, parts of the human (or divine) body, animals, plants, and objects of daily life. Nehebkau, often depicted as a male with a snakehead, was one of the deities who judged the deceased before a council of the gods.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC BY 4.0
What did you think?
Save this work’s image and museum information on this device to read without a connection.
Ask about this work
Ask in your own words. The answer comes from what the museum has written about the work, and says so when that does not hold it.
Details
- Maker
- Egyptian
- Date
- Late Period, Dynasty 26–30 (664–332 BCE)
- Medium
- Gold
- Dimensions
- 2 × 1 × 0.8 cm (3/4 × 3/8 × 5/16 in.)
- Place of origin
- Egypt
- Held by
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · On view · Gallery 50
- Credit line
- Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson
Image: Art Institute of Chicago, CC0
More by Ancient Egyptian
GuideCoffin and Mummy of PaankhaenamunAncient Egyptian · Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 22, reign of Osorkon I (about 924–889 BCE)
GuideStela of Amenemhat and HemetAncient Egyptian · Middle Kingdom, early Dynasty 12, about 1956–1877 BCE
Fragment of a Stela of NeferhotepAncient Egyptian · New Kingdom, mid-Dynasty 19, about 1240-1195 BCE
