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Art Institute of Chicago

Spotted

Ancient Egyptian — Nehebkau Amulet

Ancient Egyptian

Nehebkau Amulet

-700

Small-scale Egyptian figurines, known as amulets, were thought to promote health and good luck. Amulets were such an important part of Egyptian religious beliefs that they were worn by both the living and the dead. They could be mounted on rings or strung as bracelets or necklaces and were often placed among a mummy's wrappings to secure the deceased’s rebirth and well-being in the afterlife. Many varieties of amulets survived, including figures of deities, parts of the human (or divine) body, animals, plants, and objects of daily life. Nehebkau, often depicted as a male with a snakehead, was one of the deities who judged the deceased before a council of the gods.

Medium
Gold
Dimensions

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Ancient Egyptian, Nehebkau Amulet, -700

Small-scale Egyptian figurines, known as amulets, were thought to promote health and good luck. Amulets were such an important part of Egyptian religious beliefs that they were worn by both the living and the dead. They could be mounted on rings or strung as bracelets or necklaces and were often placed among a mummy's wrappings to secure the deceased’s rebirth and well-being in the afterlife. Many varieties of amulets survived, including figures of deities, parts of the human (or divine) body, animals, plants, and objects of daily life. Nehebkau, often depicted as a male with a snakehead, was one of the deities who judged the deceased before a council of the gods.

Medium
Gold
Dimensions
1 x 0.8 cm
Year
-700
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Small Scale, Unique Work

More works by Ancient Egyptian

Collected by

Art Institute of Chicago