Amulet pendant thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Amulet pendant

Pendant
1400BC-400BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Protective amulets taking the shape of gods, animals or various symbols were often placed in tombs. In Ancient Egypt, gold was the colour of divinity. Taweret was the goddess of maternity and childbirth, who protected women and children. She was depicted as a combination of a hippopotamus, a crocodile and a lion, all of these animals were fierce when protecting their young. Amulets of Taweret were popular, used by expectant mothers. In the Book of the Dead, Taweret was also seen as a goddess who guided the dead into the afterlife. Many of the deities relating to birth also appear in the undeworld to help with the rebirth of the souls into their life after death.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAmulet pendant
Materials and techniques
Gold
Brief description
Pendant, gold, in the form of Thoeris, a hippopotamus goddess, Egypt, Ptolemaic, 4th-1st century BC
Physical description
Amulet pendant of Taweret, the hippopotamus goddess
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.2cm
  • Width: 1.5cm
  • Depth: 0.3cm
Gallery label
Amulet pendant of Taweret, the hippopotamus goddess associated with childbirth Egypt, about 1400-400 BC (New Kingdom-Late Period) Sheet gold, embossed and chased Possibly part of a necklace Museum no. M.32-1963 Bequeathed by E.H. Wallis
Credit line
Wallis Bequest
Production
New Kingdom-Late Period
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
Protective amulets taking the shape of gods, animals or various symbols were often placed in tombs. In Ancient Egypt, gold was the colour of divinity. Taweret was the goddess of maternity and childbirth, who protected women and children. She was depicted as a combination of a hippopotamus, a crocodile and a lion, all of these animals were fierce when protecting their young. Amulets of Taweret were popular, used by expectant mothers. In the Book of the Dead, Taweret was also seen as a goddess who guided the dead into the afterlife. Many of the deities relating to birth also appear in the undeworld to help with the rebirth of the souls into their life after death.
Collection
Accession number
M.32-1963

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Record createdApril 12, 2005
Record URL
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