Hathor Head Amulet
The goddess face on this small piece is less angular than those seen on many sistra: although broad through the cheeks, the brow and chin are rounded, and her features are less drawn out and stylized. The goddess wears a vulture cap whose pattern of small feathers can be seen above and at the sides of her head over her typical wig, creating a busy pattern equally atypical of many Saite sistra. The busy detail and more normalized features suggest a different place or date of production than the sistra: the piece may be closer in date to the Ptolemaic Period.
Over her head appears the podium crown. On either side is a uraeus cobra, the marker of the goddess’s very close relation to the king-like gods Horus and Re – and related to the goddess’s own sky and sun aspects – and to the king. The cobra on the left wears the white crown and the one on the right the red crown. The elaborate markings on the cobra hood are visible in side view.
The back is flat. Four vertical piercings indicate this element is a spacer.
Over her head appears the podium crown. On either side is a uraeus cobra, the marker of the goddess’s very close relation to the king-like gods Horus and Re – and related to the goddess’s own sky and sun aspects – and to the king. The cobra on the left wears the white crown and the one on the right the red crown. The elaborate markings on the cobra hood are visible in side view.
The back is flat. Four vertical piercings indicate this element is a spacer.
Artwork Details
- Title: Hathor Head Amulet
- Period: Late Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 26–29
- Date: 664–332 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Faience
- Dimensions: H. 3.2 × W. 3.1 × D. 1.1 cm (1 1/4 × 1 1/4 × 7/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926
- Object Number: 26.7.1041
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.