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Details
LOT 0479
Egyptian Faience Phallic Amuletic Pendant
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 332-30 B.C.
3/4 in. (1.54 grams, 18 mm).
Formed as stylised phallus with large testes and part of the lower abdomen, suspension loop above.
Provenance
From the collection of a late London, UK, gentleman, 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Literature
Cf. Petrie, W.M.F., Amulets. Illustrated by the Egyptian Collection in University College, London, 1914, pl. I, nos. 16a-d, for similar examples.
Footnotes
Small phallic amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised fertility, protection, and vitality. Often worn as jewellery or carried as personal charms, these amulets invoked the generative power of the male form, which was closely tied to life, creation, and strength. They were commonly used to ward off evil, ensure male potency, and protect children or the wearer from harm. These amulets reflect the Egyptian belief in the protective and regenerative power of sexuality, and their use spanned both everyday life and funerary contexts.
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LOT 0479
Egyptian Faience Phallic Amuletic Pendant
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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