Beschreibung:

EGYPTIAN LARGE EYE OF HORUS AMULET Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 BC A pale blue glazed composition openwork plaque formed as the eye of Horus supported by the feather of Ma'at, a papyrus stalk, a uraeus and an eye; black pigment to the pupils and brow; pierced for attachment. 11 grams, 49mm (2"). Very fine condition. Provenance From an old British private collection; formed between 1975 and 1985. Literature Cf. Andrews, C. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London, 1994, plate 46a for a similar example in the British Museum, accession number EA 29222. Footnotes The sun and moon were mythically imagined to be the eyes of the god Horus and the term eye of Horus is believed to refer to the moon originally. Over time the cult of Horus became associated with that of the sun god Ra, whose eye was also conceived as having special powers. Both the eye of Horus, and that of Ra, were believed to fight the enemies of light, order and justice. The association between the eye of Horus and that of Ra led to it being called Wadjet, who was also a cobra goddess resident in the city of Buto on the Nile delta. The eye of Ra was believed to have left his body and taken the form of the fire spitting cobra goddess, and it is this goddess that is seen on the brows of the Pharaohs and gods in the form of the uraeus. On this amulet both the eye of Horus, here winged to reinforce its connection to Horus and Ra, and the uraeus cobra, are represented together to give added power and protection to the wearer of the amulet.