Egyptian art / sculpture - Apis bull aegis artifact replica & Hathor cow amulet

Hathor amulet & Apis aegis


Dimensions -

Apis bull aegis amulet - Height - 8 cm / Inches - 3 - 1/4 inches approx.

On offer here is an Apis bull aegis amulet and it is an exclusive replica of an actual ancient object. In addition a small amulet of Hathor is included to continue the theme. Both pieces are made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone.


Background information -

The Apis bull was sacred to the god of artists and craftsmen - Ptah of ancient Memphis (Menufer). The piece on offer is a reproduction of an actual AEGIS. For the unfamiliar this is a design that features a head of a deity attached to a stylized 'WSH' collar. Several deities could be depicted in this form with surviving examples ranging from 1 to 30 cm / 12" in height.

The design first appeared in the reign of Hatshepsut as shown on the walls of the so called 'red chapel'. Here can be seen the sacred boat of Amun the 'Userhat Amun' and on the prow and stern of the vessel the head of Amun merges with a collar. This is the earliest known form of the aegis which soon evolved to be incorperated in the designs of ceremonial staffs as appeared in the reign of Thutmose the fourth.

By the third intermediate period the aegis had been put into production as an amulet offering the owner another form of protection from the deity of choice. This example is from that era. It shows the head of Apis surmounted by the horned sun disc crown of Hathor with the Wsh collar below.

'Aegis' is a Greek word to describe a protective cape and the ancient Greeks must have likened the Egyptian examples as something representative of a cape hanging semi-circular beneath the deity .

The small Hathor amulet shows the goddess in the form of her sacred cow. She is resting on a sled which can be seen curling up at the front. The disc of the sun, her father rests between her horns.

*As each item is handmade, slight colour variations may occur.