An Egyptian Faience Cippus Amulet, Late Period, Ca. 664 - 332 BC

A pale green faience, depicting the dwarf god Pataikos standing on a plinth, the god with a scarab on his head and a Horus-falcon on each shoulder, holding a serpent in each hand, flanked by a standing figure of Isis to his right, and sister Nephthys to his left, the flat-back stele-form pillar incised with a winged Isis wearing a horned sun-disk, pierced behind his head for suspension.

The Pataikos cippus amulet, like the closely related examples featuring Horus-the-Child, was designed to give magical protection against noxious creatures, such as crocodiles and serpents.

Condition: Loss to top of head, elbow, and corner professionally restored and some minor glaze wear; otherwise intact and overall in very condition.

Provenance: Private Maryland collection, deaccessioned from the Walters Art Museum, 1973.