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| (Photocredit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art) |
The first use of the wedjat eye as an amulet was when Horus offered it to Osiris. It was so powerful that it restored him to life. The regenerative and protective powers of the amulet meant that it was placed among the wrappings of mummies in great numbers. It could even replace food offerings in rituals. It first appeared in the late Old Kingdom and was used until mummification was no longer practised, in the Roman Period (30 BC - AD 395)
Amulets were made from many different materials, but blue or green faience was the most common, as these colours symbolized regeneration to the ancient Egyptian. The wedjat eye was also worn by the living. Faience factories have been found at Tell el-Amarna, where rings with wedjat eye bezels were very popular among the inhabitants.
C.A.R. Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)
Period:
Third Intermediate Period
Date:
ca. 1070–664 B.C.
Geography:
Country of Origin Egypt
Medium:
Faience, aragonite
Dimensions:
5 x 6 cm (1 15/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
Credit Line:
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
Accession Number:
26.7.1032
Sources: http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/561047?rpp=20&pg=2&ao=on&ft=ancient+egypt&pos=21
https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/f/faience_wedjat_eye_amulet.aspx
No defence but this is the right eye of Horus, the Solar side. I prefer to say Udjat instead of Wedjat, the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt / Buto. Horus offered the left eye also to Osiris to restore his father's dead body. But back to the item it's an unique piece with the lion and the cobras placed under the eye.
ReplyDeleteYou are right of course Son_of_Sekhmet! It is the right eye. Thanks for your feedback and insights. Always appreciate it!!
DeleteThe Wedjat Eye, also known as the Eye of Horus, was a popular amulet in ancient Egypt. It was believed to have protective and healing powers, and was worn by both the living and the dead.
ReplyDeleteThe amulet was often made of various materials, including gold, silver, and bronze. It was also made of precious stones such as lapis lazuli, carnelian, and turquoise.