Openwork Menat
ca. 800 B.C.E. or later
Maker Unknown
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Jewelry for both life and death, the menat was originally associated with the goddess Hathor but later related to many other goddesses as well, as a symbol of protection, victory, life, birth, and rebirth. Here, these ideas are conveyed by double images (from left to right) of Mut, Sakhmet, and Hathor (or lsis-Hathor) below the sun, which is shown victoriously born/reborn as a child. Baboons, which are also hieroglyphs for "good" and "beautiful," praise his rising at dawn.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Jewelry
- Formatted Medium
- Faience
- Medium
- faience
- Dimensions
- 44.159.2a: 2 11/16 x 2 3/16 in. (6.9 x 5.5 cm) 44.159.2b: 2 5/16 x 2 3/4 in. (5.9 x 7 cm)
- Accession Number
- 44.159.2
- Credit Line
- Gift of Spink and Son, Ltd.
- Exhibitions
- Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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