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Amulet

c. 664 BC - 200 AD (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Egypt (made)

In Egyptian mythology, the crocodile was the animal sacred to the God Sobek, who was typically depicted human-form with a crocodile's head. It can be unclear if amulets such as these are intended to depict Sobek's sacred animal, or the God himself in the form of a crocodile.

Object details

Category
Africa
Object type
Amulet
Materials and techniques
Carved steatite
Steatite
Carving
Brief description
Crocodile amulet, black steatite, Egypt, Late to Roman Period
Physical description
Carved steatite amulet of a lying crocodile on a base, the scales rendered with hatching. A suspension loop is carved under the chin.
Dimensions
  • Length: 7cm
  • Width: 2cm
  • Height: 1.6cm
Styles
Egyptian
Late Period
Ptolemaic
Roman
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.
Summary
In Egyptian mythology, the crocodile was the animal sacred to the God Sobek, who was typically depicted human-form with a crocodile's head. It can be unclear if amulets such as these are intended to depict Sobek's sacred animal, or the God himself in the form of a crocodile.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.28C-1935

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Record createdJune 19, 2018
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1443451/amulet-unknown/
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