A large Egyptian Faience Amulet of Sekhmet, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664 - 525 BCE

The lion-headed goddess seated, facing forward with her hands resting on her lap, wearing tripartite wig, a tightly fitted sheath dress, and a pillar at her back.

Sekhmet, along with her husband the creator-god Ptah and their son Nerfertum, was part of the powerful trio of deities that protected Ancient Memphis. Daughter of the sun god Ra, her name literally means, “the powerful.” She was a sun goddess, embodying the scorching, burning, destructive heat of the sun. Fierce goddess of war, the destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris, she was represented as having the head of a lioness and the body of a female human. She quickly became a favorite of the pharaohs, symbolizing their strength and heroism in battle.

Condition: With minor expected surface wear, intact and in overall very good condition.

Dimensions: Height: 5 cm (2 inches)

Provenance: RDA private collection, acquired from the NY trade as part of a collection assembled in the 1970's and 1980's.