Bottles in the Shape of a Pomegranate, New Kingdom, Ramessideca. 1295–1070 B.C., part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection

Pomegranate juice was prized as a drink, but it can also be used as an astringent to shrink tissues and reduce swelling in wounds. This jar depicts the fruit in its unripened state, when the juice is too sour to drink, and may have juice intended for medicinal purposes. Another jar in the collection probably held juice for consumption as a drink.

Necklace of fly beads, Egyptian, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, 1550–1295 B.C., part of the MFA Boston collection

Fly ornament necklaces, occasionally presented to courageous soldiers, may have been worn as talismans to ward off insects.

This decorative glass plaque at the Miho Museum depicts the Apis bull. I love these things’ combination of precise detail and liquid wobbliness. From Ptolemaic or Roman Egypt, First Century BCE to First Century CE.

Conserving wall paintings in the Tomb of Queen Nefertari 1985

Statue of Ka-aper, ancient Egyptian lector priest, ca. 2500 BC (early Vth Dynasty) (source)

Mechanical dog, Ancient Egypt, ca. 1390–1352 B.C. (New Kingdom), part of Metropolitan Museum’s collection

This leaping hunting dog can be made to open and close its mouth using the lever beneath the chest. Originally secured by means of a thong tied through the hole in the back of its neck and two in the throat, the lever was later attached with a metal dowel in the right shoulder. When the mouth is opened, two teeth and a red tongue are visible.

Cobra Amulet, Ancient Egypt, ca. 1070–332 B.C. (Third Intermediate Period/Late Period), part of the Metropolitan Museum’s collection

Egyptian Lotus-Shaped Chalices, ca. 1290-1070 BC (New Kingdom), part of the Walters Art Museum Collection

The blue lotus is represented in numerous New Kingdom faience chalices. The Egyptian name for these chalices was the same as the word for lotus flower: "seshen."

Flower Festival 2023

Pictures of my icons when my partner and I decorated our shared shrine space for the festival.

A History of Art in Ancient Egypt by Georges Perrot and Charles Chipiez, translated by Sir Walter Armstrong.

Amulet set depicting the Four Sons of Horus, Third Intermediate Period, part of British Museum’s collection

During the Third Intermediate Period, mummification practices changed and the packages containing the embalmed internal organs were no longer placed in Canopic Jars, but were returned to the body cavity, each with an amulet of the relevant Canopic deity attached. Although later Canopic packages came to be placed once more inside jars or within the mummy wrappings, an amuletic set ol the Four Sons of Horus continued to be supplied. Either they were stitched onto the bandages over the mummy's torso by means of the holes provided, or they were incorporated into the bead netting which enveloped contemporary mummies.

Amulet depicting goddess Sekhmet, Third Intermediate Period, part of the British Museum’s collection

Glazed composition amulet of Sekhmet: represented as a seated woman with maned lion's head moulded in bright blue glazed composition. Her long hair is divided by the shoulders and she wears a full-length dress. Anklets, armlets and bracelets are picked out in a darker blue glaze. She sits on an openwork block throne, decorated on each side with representations of stellar decans in the form of snakes. On her knee, Sekhmet holds a shrine shaped sistrum or rattle and across her chest carries a papyrus scepter whose long stem runs to her ankles. The green sappy papyrus was symbolic of new life and a sceptre in its shape is only found in the hands of goddesses. 

The presence of the sistrum, a musical instrument connected with merrymaking, suggests the lion-headed goddess may represent Bastet in her original fearsome form. As an amulet it would have been worn to show particular devotion and to place the wearer under the protection of the great goddess.

Signet Ring of Priest Sienamun

Made of gold, diam. 3 cm (1 3/16 in). Late Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664-525 BC. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 23.10.14

Abu Simbel - Egypt (by Gilbert Sopakuwa) 

Amulet of Goddess Taweret, Late Period, XXVI Dynasty, from the collection of Michael C. Carlos Museum

Pendant of the dwarf god Bes, ca. Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.

Inlay Depicting "Horus of Gold", Late Period–Ptolemaic Period