A fine green glazed faience amulet depicting the ibis-headed god Thoth. The god is shown striding forward, hands to his sides and standing on an oblong base, a piercing towards the top of the back pillar for suspension. The amulet shows superior modelling and is much more finely detailed than the average.
 
Egyptian Late Dynastic Period: 730-332 BC
 
Height including base 5.67 cms (2.23 ins).
Condition: Left arm lost, otherwise intact as shown with a small chip to the tip of the beak; mounted on a hardwood display block
 
Provenance: Previously with Helios Gallery: Ex. collection: the artist Albert Newall (1920-1989) UK and South Africa; acquired in South Africa during the 1950's-1960's. Thence by descent to Peter Newall, Blandford Forum, Dorset, UK (d. 2018), imported to the UK in the 1970's.
 
For similar at the Met Museum, see https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/552689
 
The god played several prominent roles in Egyptian mythology, during the Late Period Thoth was associated with the arbitration of godly disputes, the arts of magic, the system of writing, and the judgment of the dead.
 
See our blog post on amulets