Amulet in the form of a head of an elephant
Predynastic, Naqada II
Not on view
Few amulets from the Predynastic Period are known. In the past, Egyptologists identified amulets, such as this one, as representing a bull's head, but the round face and eyes, the horns that curve inward to the face, and a snout with a defined ridge make a strong argument for its identification as an elephant. During this period, elephants lived in oasis-like zones in the high desert created by greater rainfall than today. They were probably a rare sight to floodplain dwellers, but their size, tusks, and aggressive displays made them an awe-inspiring creature and an excellent subject for a potent amulet.
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