Amulet thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Amulet

664 BC - 30 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (maker)
Place of origin
Egypt (made)

The djed pillar is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for 'stability'. It was most frequently associated with the God Osiris, and is often understood as a representation of his backbone. Due to its assocations with the god of the Underworld, and themes of rebirth, it was frequently employed in funerary contexts, placed on the deceased as an amulet.

Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Jewellery
Africa
Object type
Amulet
Materials and techniques
Glazed composition
Glazed
Brief description
Djed pillar amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic Period
Physical description
Green glazed composition amulet in the form of a djed pillar, with incised details
Dimensions
  • Height: 29mm
  • Width: 13mm
  • Depth: 8mm
Styles
Egyptian
Late Period
Ptolemaic
Gallery label
(1935)
Amulets in various materials and of various dates.

From the earliest times, the Egyptians wore small objects of great variety upon their person so as to protect themselves against evil influences and to invoke the help of benign deities. The examples here range from the Middle Kingdom (circa 2000 B.C.) to the Ptolemaic Period (332-30 B.C.), and are made of the following materials: glazed and glass ware, red jasper, granite and serpentine.

The commonest example is the sacred eye of Horus, represented in many forms and sizes, and made to be worn either on a necklace or on the finger as a ring. The eye symbolises the watching protection of Horus on his dead father Osiris with whom the deceased was considered to be identical. Two good specimens from the XVIIIth Dynasty (circa 1400 B.C.) are shown.

Other amulets are: the Hippopotamus Goddess of women and child-birth Thoueris; Bes, demi-god of the house; Nephtys, sister of Isis; the cat sacred to the Goddess Bast; the Hawk of the Sun-God; the sacred Ram of Amen, King of the Gods; the papyrus sceptre which stands for prosperity; the ankh or sign of life; the nefer sign of good luck and beauty; the Ded-pillar of stability; and the crocodile emblem of Sobek. Scarab beetles from mummies of the XXVIth Dynasty-Ptolemaic Period (663 B.C.-330 B.C.).

Given by University College, London
CIRC.28-1935
Credit line
Given by University College London
Object history
CIRC.26-1935 to CIRC.30-1935 were a collection of five groups of items, mounted on boards, given to the V&A by University College London in 1935. Each was intended to demonstrate the tradition of a type of Egyptian manufacture - slate palettes, amulets, necklaces and bracelets etc, typically from grave contexts.
Production
Late-Ptolemaic Period
Subjects depicted
Stability
Pillar
Summary
The djed pillar is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for 'stability'. It was most frequently associated with the God Osiris, and is often understood as a representation of his backbone. Due to its assocations with the god of the Underworld, and themes of rebirth, it was frequently employed in funerary contexts, placed on the deceased as an amulet.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.28W-1935

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Record createdDecember 6, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O141289/amulet-unknown/
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