About this artwork
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 placed among the mummy wrappings to secure the deceased’s rebirth and well-being in the afterlife. Many varieties of amulets survive, including figures of deities, parts of the human (ordivine) body, animals, plants, and objects of daily life. The ram symbolized of virility and power. The amulet was also a pun: the words “ram” and “soul” were the same in ancient Egyptian, and so by extension, the amulet gave power to the soul of the deceased.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Ram Amulet
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in)
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Date
- 700 BCE–1 BCE
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Medium
- Glass
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Dimensions
- 1.9 × 2.4 × 0.5 cm (3/4 × 1 × 3/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- W. Moses Willner Fund
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Reference Number
- 1910.161
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/64165/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
