Ancient Egyptian Pendant
by Nigel Fletcher-Jones
Title
Ancient Egyptian Pendant
Artist
Nigel Fletcher-Jones
Medium
Photograph - Photograph - Digital Art
Description
This lovely cloisonné pendant—4.5 cm high, 8.2 cm wide, and made of gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and garnet—can be seen on display at the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
It was found in the tomb of Princess Sithathoryunet within the pyramid complex of Senwosret II (1887-1878 BC) at al-Lahun within the Fayum oasis.
Hundred of gold cells were created to accept tiny, thin pieces of stone.
The falcons on each side are a royal symbol and clutch protective ‘shen' signs. Beside the head of each falcon, a royal cobra ‘uraeus’, each with an ankh sign hanging from their body protect the throne name of the king contained within an oval cartouche.
Below the cartouche, the god Heh sits above a bar representing—through its zigzag pattern—the waters from which the world was brought into being, and he offers the king an eternal reign through the notched palm symbols he holds that represent millions of years. The tadpole hanging from the god’s right arm—representing 100,000—further emphasises the gift of infinite rule.
My new book, 'Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: 50 Masterpieces of Art and Design is available worldwide.
Uploaded
October 2nd, 2020
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for Ancient Egyptian Pendant. Click here to post the first comment.