This small faience plaque depicts the divine triad of Thebes in profile: the god Amun-Re, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu. Amun wears a tall, plumed crown, a curled divine beard, a broad collar, and a short kilt. He holds a was-sceptre in his left hand. Mut stands behind Amun with her right hand raised to the back of his head. She wears a tight-fitting dress, the feathered design of which is indicated by the pattern impressed into the faience, and the Double Crown, emphasizing her status as the wife of the king of the gods. Khonsu stands behind his parents, the lunar disk on his head indicating his role as a moon god. The face of Bes looks out from the top of the amulet. It serves as a suspension loop and is pierced through horizontally.
 
26th Dynasty: Circa 664-525 BC.
 
Condition: Very fine; a small surface chip to side rear of suspension loop
Height 4.5 cms (1.8 ins).
 
Provenance: Early 20th century UK Home Counties collection.
 
The more common example of a triad amulet is that of Osiris, Isis, and Horus, but triads existed all over Egypt, and were often associated with a particular city. This family, comprised of Amun-Re, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu, was especially worshipped at the Karnak complex of temples. While all three of these deities could be honoured through individual amulets, the emphasis in this plaque is on the group and their role as the preeminent deities of Thebes.