<em>Frog Amulet</em>, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_wwgA-3.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_wwgA-3.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_bottom_view1.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_right_view2.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_right_view1.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_front1.jpg)

Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_mummychamber.jpg)

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Frog Amulet

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Funerary Gallery 2, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Living persons wore only one or a few amulets at a time, but mummies usually bear many amulets. The Ma’at amulet (no. 2) and heart scarabs (nos. 1, 3, 11), which occurred in many forms, guaranteed a successful judgment of the dead. The amulets of a hand (no. 8), lungs and a windpipe (no. 12), and wadjet-eyes (i.e., “healthy” eyes; no. 4) protected those parts of the body and also had connotations of resurrection and the unity or integrity of the mummy. The enigmatic aper amulet (no. 13) takes the form of the hieroglyph meaning “to be equipped,” perhaps in reference to the mummy’s preparation. The two crowns (nos. 5, 6) were symbols of power. The Heh insignia (no. 7), like the popular ankh-sign, denoted eternal life. Among the living, the frog (no. 9) and possibly also the hare (no. 10) suggested fertility. The amulets of the Four Sons of Horus (no. 15) perhaps served, as they did with canopic jars, to protect various organs of the body.

MEDIUM Glass

Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 9/16 in. (1.5 cm) Base: 9/16 x 11/16 in. (1.4 x 1.8 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 59.18

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Opaque dark blue glass amulet in the form of a seated frog, head erect, undercut, with front legs in the round. Inscribed oval base. Mat finish. Small pieces of light blue glass and a few minute specks of red glass mixed with the blue-apparently accidental inclusions. Pierced. Condition: Intact. A molded piece which was then cut and polished.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Funerary Gallery 2, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Frog Amulet, ca. 1390–1295 B.C.E. Glass, 9/16 in. (1.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 59.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.59.18_wwgA-3.jpg)

IMAGE installation, West Wing gallery A-3 installation, CUR.59.18_wwgA-3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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