Description

Egypt, New Kingdom, ca. 1550 - 1069 BC. Blue glazed faience, slender tapering form, a tall broad shaft with ribbed capital surmounted by four short horizontal bars, hole for attachment at top.

cf: D Auria, Lacovara and Roehrig, 'Mummies and Magic,' p.181 for a discussion of djed-pillars. The author writes that this form of amulet 'has been variously explained as a column of papyrus stems, a tree-trunk with looped branches and a sheaf of bound cornstalks... Though not originally associated with Osiris, by the New Kingdom the djed-pillar had come to be closely linked with the god, and its shape was reinterpreted as a representation of his backbone. The image also has connotations of stability and endurance and it was primarily to confer these qualities on the deceased that [they were] placed within the mummy wrappings.'

Condition

Attractive blue glaze thinner at back of piece, minor age appropriate wear and accumulation, part of attachment loop now missing.