Djed-Pillar Amulet Bird
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
The djed-pillar can perhaps be understood as the backbone of Osiris, or that of the deceased associated with him. The Egyptians recognized the importance of the spine and saw it as a symbol that kept Osiris, the resurrected god, intact and able to function. Spell 151e of the Book of the Dead refers to the djed-pillar amulet as “the magical protection of Osiris,” and spell 155 was recited over this amulet as it was placed on the throat of a mummy. As a hieroglyph, the djed-pillar denotes the more abstract concepts of stability, endurance, and rejuvenation.
MEDIUM
Faience
DATES
664–332 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 26 to Dynasty 30
PERIOD
Late Period
DIMENSIONS
3 3/16 × 1 7/16 × 5/8 in. (8.1 × 3.7 × 1.6 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.1306E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Pale green-glazed faience amulet in the form of a Djed pillar. The back slab is not pierced for suspension.
Condition: Right hand side of upper cross bar chipped.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Djed-Pillar Amulet Bird, 664–332 B.C.E. Faience, 3 3/16 × 1 7/16 × 5/8 in. (8.1 × 3.7 × 1.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1306E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1306E_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 37.1306E_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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