A delicate, ancient Egyptian amulet, depicting the god Thoth and moulded from vivid, turquoise faience. He is depicted striding forward, with his arms by his side and his fists clenched. He wears a short, shendyt kilt and tripartite wig and is shown with the head of an ibis. The details are stylistically rendered, from his facial features and the ridge of his beak, to the folds in his drapery. The amulet is positioned on an integrated, rectangular base which continues up the back, forming a dorsal pillar. Behind the neck of the figure is a horizontal perforation for suspension.

**Date:** Circa 664 - 332 BC  
**Period:** Late Period  
**Provenance:** Ex. Early 20th Century collection, AB, UK, passed by descent.  
**Condition:** Very good condition. Some wear to the surface consistent with age and earthy encrustations is visible. Vivid bright colouring still remains. Small old chip to the base, back right corner.

**Dimensions:** L 1.7 x W 1.1 x H 4 cm

**Weight:** 4.6 g



The god Thoth was an important deity within the Egyptian pantheon. He was involved in all aspects of Egyptian life and culture, from the living to the deceased. He was known as the keeper and recorder of all knowledge, and as the inventor of writing and language. As the deity that healed Osiris, he was also associated with healing, and thus the god of physicians and healers. Due to his healing connotations, amulets of Thoth were popular, worn on the body by the living as well as the dead.

His consort was the goddess Ma’at, who represented the concept of truth, balance, order, law, morality, and justice. Alongside her, Thoth had an active role in the ‘Weighing of the heart ceremony’, it was believed that he recorded the verdict of the deceased’s fate. Amulets such as this would have been placed upon the mummy to anticipate a good outcome in the ceremony.

Thoth is often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon, as these animals were sacred to him.

Egyptian Turquoise Faience Amulet of Thoth