In this tiny amulet, we see all of the coiled
stregnth, ferocious repose, and exquisite
musculature of the Nile Crocodile. The wearer
perhaps wished to imbibe himself with the
primordial vigor of this undenaibly powerful
beast, or to ward off the approach of evil spirits
with its imposing presence. Whatever the
reason, the piece was obviously extremely
important to whomever commisioned it- for
rarely in the art of amulet-making do we
encounter a piece of this meticulous and
beautiful execution. The crocodile's legs bulge
with muscle, his back is etched with the dry
lumps of his spine. His whole body is lined with
muscle, giving him a sense of agressive beauty.
His eyes, set exquisitely beneath his bulging
brow, are alive with fire and stregnth. The artist
of this piece has infused in this crocodile
something that our nature documentaries, with
their high-definition cameras, can never capture.
In him is an energy beyond the physical, a
ferocity and power that extend beyond his body
and razor sharp teeth, and into his eyes, his
expression, and his emotion. The emotions we
feel when staring into the eyes of this beast give
us an idea of what its original owner must've felt.
To hold it in our hands is to exude the same
confidence, and the same suriety that our
Ancient Egyptian ancestor felt while wearing it
around his neck.
- (FJ.1556)
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