An amulet, talisman, or charm is a personal ornament which, because of its shape, material , or even its color, is believed to endow its wearer by magical means with certain powers or capabilities. At the very least it should it should afford some kind of protection. In fact, three of the four Egyptian words translated as "amulet" comes primarily from words meaning "to guard" or "protect". The fourth has the same sound as the word meaning "well being".

Blue glazed faience, 1.85 grams, 22.74 mm. New Kingdom, Eighteenth dynasty, 1500 - 1292 B.C. The dwarf god Bes shown with a typical stumpy body and outward pointing ears, hole through his hairpiece for suspension. Very Fine condition.

Blue glazed faience, 1.85 grams, 22.74 mm. New Kingdom, Eighteenth dynasty, 1500 - 1292 B.C. The dwarf god Bes shown with a typical stumpy body and outward pointing ears, hole through his hairpiece for suspension. Very Fine condition. SOLD

Glazed Faience, 2.25 grams; 34.80 mm. Circa 500 B.C. An amulet depicting Taweret the Egyptian god of evil who is shown with the body of a hippopotamus, arms and legs of a lion and tail of a crocodile, all animals the Egyptian feared. Very Fine condition.

Glazed Faience, 2.25 grams; 34.80 mm. Circa 500 B.C. An amulet depicting Taweret the Egyptian god of evil who is shown with the body of a hippopotamus, arms and legs of a lion and tail of a crocodile, all animals the Egyptian feared. Very Fine condition.

Her name means (one) who is great. She was originally the demon-wife of Apep, the original god of evil. Since Apep was viewed as residing below the horizon, and only present at night, evil during the day was envisaged as being a result of Taweret's maleficence.

As the counterpart of Apep, who was always below the horizon, Taweret was seen as being the northern sky, the constellation roughly covering the area of present-day Draco, which always lies above the horizon. Thus Taweret was known as mistress of the horizon, and was depicted as such on the ceiling of the tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings.

In their art, Taweret was depicted as a composite of all the things the Egyptians feared, the major part of her being hippopotamus, since this is what the constellation most resembled, with the arms and legs of a lioness, and with the back of a crocodile. On occasion, later, rather than having a crocodile back, she was seen as having a separate crocodile resting on her back, which was thus interpreted as Sobek, the crocodile-god, and said to be her consort.

Glazed Faience, 0.59 grams; 12.16 mm. Ptolemaic Period, Circa 300 B.C. A beautiful turquoise coloured amulet with an incised decoration depicting a Wedjat eye, or more commonly known as the 'Eye of Horus' or 'Eye of Ra', designed to resemble the right eye of the falcon god Horus. An ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities, in this case from Horus or Ra. This symbol is also seen on images of his mother, Isis, and other deities associated with her. Hole through centre for suspension. Extremely fine condition.

Glazed Faience, 0.59 grams; 12.16 mm. Ptolemaic Period, Circa 300 B.C. A beautiful turquoise coloured amulet with an incised decoration depicting a Wedjat eye, or more commonly known as the 'Eye of Horus' or 'Eye of Ra', designed to resemble the right eye of the falcon god Horus. An ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities, in this case from Horus or Ra. This symbol is also seen on images of his mother, Isis, and other deities associated with her. Hole through centre for suspension. Extremely fine condition.