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Egyptian Faience Djed Pillar AmuletAn ancient Egyptian large blue faience amulet of a Djed pillar, representing the Hieroglyphic sign of Djed, meaning stability or endurance, surmounted by the atef crown of Osiris. 3rd Intermediate Period, The Egyptian amulet, as with nearly all objects that accompanied the dead into the afterlife, was of magical significance. The Djed pillar was believed to be an especially potent amulet, insuring the ability to begin anew in the Afterlife. The Djed pillar was initially associated with the funerary god Sokaris, revered at Memphis. Later the symbol and the ceremony of ritually raising the Djed pillar became associated with Ptah, and finally with the underworld god, Osiris. The Book of the Dead, chapter 155, mentions the words that were to be spoken when the Djed amulet was placed (strung on a fiber of sycamore) upon the throat of the deceased. The text goes on to invoke Osirisâ?? resurrection, and compare the Djed pillar with the spine of Osiris. The Djed pillar was one of the most common funerary amulets, often dozens were found strung around the mummy. Formerly in a New York private collection, previously in an old English private collection. Inv#: 7860 $3,000 |
