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Details
LOT 0018
Egyptian Glazed Steatite Amulet of Bastet
LATE PERIOD, CIRCA 664-332 B.C.
1 1/2 in. (3.75 grams, 38 mm).
Modelled in advancing pose wearing a tight-fitting robe, cat-headed, with a sistrum in one hand and a Bes head emblem in the other; suspension loop between shoulders.
Provenance
François de Ricqlès, Paris, Archéologie, 30 September-1 October 1996, no.332.
Private collection, London, UK, acquired from the above sale.
Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport, dated 2 October 1996.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Footnotes
Bastet is typically depicted with the head of a lioness or domestic cat. The cat symbolises protection, motherhood, and, later, gentleness and domesticity, qualities associated with Bastet, especially in her later evolution from a fierce lioness to a more benevolent feline goddess. The sistrum she holds is a ritual musical instrument associated with Hathor and other birth goddesses and is linked to joy, music, and divine protection. Bastet was often invoked during music and dance ceremonies, and the sistrum reinforces her role in celebration and protection. Bes was a dwarf god known for guarding households, particularly mothers and children. His image on Bastet’s amulet emphasises her protective role, especially at home and during childbirth.
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