An Egyptian Faience Amulet of Sekhmet, Ptolemaic Period, ca. 300 - 30 BCE

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Of blue- and green-glazed faience, the lion-headed goddess seated on a low-backed, openwork throne depicting the snake-headed god Nehebkau and a djed pillar, facing forward with he r hands in her lap holding a sistrum, wearing a tripartite wig, a tightly fitted sheath dress, and suspension loop at the back of the head. Sekhmet, along with her husband the creator-god Ptah and their son Nerfertum, was part of the powerful trio of deities that protected Ancient Memphis. Daughter of the sun god Ra, her name literally means, “the powerful.” She was a sun goddess, embodying the scorching, burning, destructive heat of the sun. Fierce goddess of war, the destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris, she was represented as having the head of a lioness and the body of a female human. She quickly became a favorite of the pharaohs, symbolizing their strength and heroism in battle. Dimensions: Height: 2 inches (5 cm), Length: 1 inch (2.5 cm) Condition: Missing one ear and with some surface wear, overall intact. Provenance: Private collection of Mariann Hansen, Racine, Wisconsin, acquired from Susette Khayat, Ancient Art Objects New York, in 1959. Show more