AN EGYPTIAN GLAZED STEATITE ‘THOTH’ AMULET, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD

拍品描述

AN EGYPTIAN GLAZED STEATITE ‘THOTH’ AMULET, LATE PERIOD-PTOLEMAIC PERIOD This lot is from a single owner collection and is therefore offered without reserve Egypt, 664-30 BC. Boldly modeled standing in a dynamic pose with the left foot forward on a rectangular pedestal, the arms hanging lowered alongside the elongated torso. The baboon head marked by a protruding snout and framed by neatly incised hair. The back with a small loop for suspension. Important Note: For essential information on the Jorgen Ruben Gallery Ledger and provenance documentation please visit here: www.zacke.at/rubencollection_ledger Dimensions: Height 4.7 cm The ancient Egyptian god Thoth is most commonly associated with two animals, the ibis and the baboon. This example depicts the deity in human form with the head of the latter. While his association with the ibis is primarily linked to writing and knowledge, due to the perceived majesty of the bird and its connection with order and observation, his association with the baboon relates to time and the observation of the sky. Ancient Egyptians believed that baboons ‘greeted’ the sun at dawn through their vocalizations and postures, making them symbols of the transition between night and day, a realm associated with the regulation of time and cosmic order, functions also attributed to Thoth. Amulets of Thoth were particularly popular in funerary contexts, likely reflecting both his healing attributes and his role as the divine scribe who recorded the outcome of the final judgment, determining whether the deceased had led a virtuous life. Literature comparison: Compare a related faience ‘Thoth’ amulet, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 2.5 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 89.2.366. Compare a related glazed composition ‘Thoth’ amulet, dated Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, in the British Museum, registration number E16.

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