Medium: Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, steatite
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:305–30 B.C.E.
Dimensions: 1 1/4 × 2 3/4 × 1/2 in. (3.2 × 7 × 1.3 cm)
Collections:
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 37.804E
Image: 37.804E.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Gold amulet with a cloissone inlay of lapis lazuli, turquoise, and steatite representing a soul in the form of a human-headed bird. Viewed from below the piece displays a human head and bird’s body modelled in the round in gold. This body is attached to outstretched wings made of a sheet of gold. Attached to each wing is an eyelet made of a strip of gold. The lower part of the underside of the tail has an inlay pattern representing five feathers (lapis-turquoise-steatite-turquoise-lapis). Seen from above the sheet of gold is inlayed to represent a feather pattern which is broken up into areas of dark and light blue (lapis and turquoise) with a brown curving strip across the shoulder. Condition: One end of one of the eyelets loose; one steatite inlay missing.