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LOT 0447
Romano-Egyptian Silver Ring with Bastet and Kittens
ROMAN PERIOD, 30 B.C.-323 AD.
1 1/8 in. (15.21 grams, 28.80 mm overall, 17.01 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)).
D-section hoop with lotus flowers on the shoulders, bezel formed as a reclining cat and three kittens.
ProvenanceEx London, UK collection, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 25, for type.
FootnotesThe cat was sacred to Bastet, a protective mother goddess and the daughter of the sun god Re. When shown with kittens, as here, Bastet's maternal role as a fierce protector of offspring is emphasised.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Faience Amulet Group
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Comprising a resting lioness on a rectangular base and the god Thoth in baboon form. 1.30 grams total, 12-15 mm
From the collection of Doctor Girard, a collector for over 60 years. with Hotel des Ventes de Clermont-Ferrand, 22 May 2017. Property of a French collector.
Throughout ancient Egyptian mythology, lioness goddesses played a significant role in the religious beliefs of the people. These goddesses, including Sekhmet, Bastet, and Wadjet were revered as powerful and fierce protectors. Their presence was believed to ward off evil and safeguard the people from harm. The baboon was an animal manifestation of the god Thoth. Thoth was revered for his association with knowledge, writing, and healing. It is likely that the popularity of Thoth amulets as mummy amulets is linked to his role as the recorder of the final judgment, which determined whether the deceased had lived a life of virtue.
