Egyptian art - Nekhbet & Shen ring amulet - symbol of divine protection

DESCRIPTION
Nekhbet & Shen amulet

Dimensions :-

Width - 12 cm / 4-3/4 inches

Height - 11.5 cm / 4-1/2 inces

Depth - 2 cm / 3/4 inch



On offer here is another rare replica fragment featuring the vulture goddess Nekhbet grasping the 'Shen' symbol in her talon. The Shen ring is another of many protection symbols but it particularly represents eternal protection. In addition to the fragment is a version of my very first shen amulet which was a pleasure to make and it feels good in the hand to hold.

The streched form of the Shen is far more well known and was ultimately to become the key to deciphering hieroglyphs. A streched Shen becomes a cartouche which is filled with the hieroglyphs of a king, queen, goddess or god's name. Whatever the Shen encircles is thus given divine protection.

Nekhbet

Nekhbet or the sky god Horus were most often shown holding the Shen and as the patron goddess of upper Egypt, Nekhbet brought this symbol into the mix of a unified Egypt. She was the counterpart deity to 'Wadjet' the lower Egyptian deity and together they were known as 'the two ladies'.

Usually shown resting on a basket - the hieroglyh 'Nb' or 'Nub' meaning lord. When shown as a pair it would be translated as lord of the two lands - upper and lower Egypt.

This fragment likely had a counterpart image of the cobra Wadjet facing her, also resting upon a basket.



Nekhbet was a very ancient deity in the Egyptian pantheon. The vulture was a prominent fixture of the Nile valley and a large bird capable of providing ample inspiration for the deity makers of Egypt's civilised dawn.

If you were a priestess of Nekhbet you were known as the sacred 'Muu' or mother and would be seen in ritual contexts wearing costumes of vulture feathers also known as 'Rishi' pattern.

The oldest shrine known in Egypt is actually devoted to Nekhbet at the site that is derived from her very name 'Nekhab'. Established around 3200-3100 B.C.E.



Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone this attractive study fragment has an earthy, grey patina while the Shen amulet itself is hand painted in traditional colours and has been given a light polish.