Faience, which dates back to pre-dynastic times,
of at least 5,000 years, is a glasslike non-clay
substance made of materials common to Egypt:
ground quartz, crushed quartz pebbles, flint, a
soluble salt-like baking soda, lime and ground
copper, which provided the characteristic color.
The dried objects went into kilns looking pale
and colorless but emerged a sparkling "Egyptian
blue." Called tjehnet by the ancient Egyptians,
meaning that which is brilliant or scintillating,
faience was thought to be filled with the undying
light of the sun, moon and stars and was
symbolic of rebirth. Ancient Egyptians believed
the small blue-green objects helped prepare
them for eternity in the afterlife.
This magnificent turquoise-hued faience plaque
is of a type most often found resting on the
lower torso of a mummy. Talismans of all sorts
were traditionally placed along mummified
bodies, in some cases to replace organs that
were removed, in other cases merely to ward off
evil and protect the spirit of the deceased, as is
likely the case with this plaque. Rendered in high
relief, the three gods that comprise the Osirian
triad decorate this piece. Harpokrates, the infant
Horus, stands in the center wearing his
traditional sidelock, flanked by Isis on the left
and Nephthys on the right, both of with whom he
holds hands. Isis was the sister/wife of Osiris
and the mother of Harpokrates by Osiris, after
his resurrection. Nephthys was the sister of
Osiris and Isis. As the god who conquered
death, Osiris offered hope of an afterlife to
mankind. This amulet represents the god and
goddesses closest to Osiris in the hopes that the
deceased individual upon whom this work was
bestowed would be resurrected in the next world
like the mighty god himself.
- (X.0005)
|
