Date:
Ancient Egyptian period, Late Period (664-332 BCE)
Material(s):
Man made material, faience
Hall:
In the Afterlife, showcase 5
Description
Amulet in faience representing Isis suckling her son Horus who is sitting on her lap. Her head is surmounted by the Hathoric crown.
Divine Suckling
According to the Osirian myth, the problem of royal succession was one of the main issues, and divine suckling had, at first, an exclusively royal meaning. The goddess milk was needed to ensure the king’s rebirth as full king, either in the Netherworld after his death or on earth, each time the power was transmitted or renewed (namely on coronation and jubilees).
Isis and Horus
Statuettes representing Isis suckling her son Horus were very common among Late Period figurines and were made of bronze or glazed compositions.
From the Late Period on, the “democratization” of funerary beliefs led to the popularity of such figures. The object was intended as an ex-voto to be placed in sanctuaries.
Amulets of Isis suckling Horus
Amulets of Isis suckling her son , made of glazed compositions, were placed in tombs to guarantee rebirth and endow the deceased with the protection of Isis.
The information given here is subject to modification/update as a result of ongoing research.
References
- Andrews, Carol. Egyptian Amulets. London :British Museum, 1994.
- D'Aria, Sue et al. Mummies and Magic: The Funerary Arts of Ancient Egypt. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1988.