Advanced Search 
Amulet of Amen-Re as a ram
Egyptian
Third Intermediate Period or later
About 1070 B.C.–A.D. 320
Medium/Technique
Stone
Dimensions
Overall: 2.2 x 1.2 cm (7/8 x 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.1293
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsJewelry, Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Amulets
DescriptionThis amulet of the head of a ram is crowned with a sun disc. The face is flanked by its two long horns that curve around the ears to nearly meet at the chin. It has finely-cut details, with a hole at the back for suspension. Part of the sun disc is missing. It is made of unpolished, brownish-white stone that is much incrusted with brown. Amulets of rams' heads topped by a solar disk and uraeus are thought to represent the god Amen-Re in his ram form. Amen-Re was Egypt's supreme deity in the New Kingdom and later, and was among the most important deities in Napatan and Meroitic Nubia. Flat-backed amulets of the god in ram form were especially popular in Nubia.
ProvenanceBy 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.