Elephant, Late Naqada II (ca. 3650–3300 b.c.) Egyptian Serpentine, bone Rogers Fund, 1959 (59.101.1) On view: Gallery 101 Last Updated February 3, 2012 Few amulets from the Predynastic Period are known. In the past, Egyptologists identified these amulets as representing a bulls head, but the round face and eyes, the horns that curve inward to the face, and a snout with a defined ridge make a strong argument for its identification as an elephant. During this period, elephants lived in oasis-like zones in the high desert created by greater rainfall than today. They were probably a rare sight to floodplain dwellers, but their size, tusks, and aggressive displays made them an awe-inspiring creature and an excellent subject for a potent amulet. metmuseum
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 21:42:20 +0000
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