Description: Amulet in mid-turquoise Egyptian faience depicting the Osirian Triad -- Harpocrates (Horus-the-Child) flanked by his mother Isis on proper right and her sister Nephthys on proper left. Harpocrates is shown nude with a side-lock on the right of his head. The goddesses are wearing their headdresses - Isis with the st throne and Nepthys the nb-hwt signs. Their close fitting ankle length dresses are indicated by lines above their feet. A large barrel bead suspension loop is located in the centre top of the amulet.
Collector's Marks: A yellow oval paper label with the number 351 was adhered to the amulet, but is now loose in the storage bag.
Cultural Significance: Triad amulets depicting Harpocrates, Isis and Nephthys were produced begining in the Saite Period (Dynasty 26). They typically illustrate the protective power of the two goddesses over the infant Horus prior to his accession to his father Osiris’s throne and the defeat of Seth. These amulets were placed within the mummy wrappings around the chest, stomach or thighs and bestowed these protective qualities over the deceased on the journey to the afterlife. The order of the goddesses on either side of Harpocrates can be reversed in different examples, as can be seen in the Eton Myers Collection. The amulets are often manufactured in blue faience, but bronze examples have been known. In rare examples the figures are depicted in profile across the plaque (Andrews 1994: plate 53d). Suspension loops can be found on the back of the amulets or mounted on the top, and occasionally the suspension hole is simply drilled through the back of the plaque.
Comparanda: ECM 119, ECM 120, ECM 121, ECM 122, ECM 123, ECM 1558; National Museums Liverpool M11640; Louvre E24354, E13667, E1362, AF2213, N4152; British Museum EA26317, EA11638, EA60921, EA11687.

Notes:  See W. Petrie, Amulets 1914, 152 and for position on mummy see Plates L-LIV; Andrews, Amulets of Ancient Egypt 1994, p. 12 & 49 and plate 53d and back cover.

1 Related People