“This hematite amulet captures the tender bond between Isis and Horus, a powerful symbol of divine protection and motherhood in ancient Egypt. Its small size and durable material suggest it was a personal charm, meant to bring blessings to its owner.”
This small, dark hematite amulet depicts the goddess Isis tenderly nursing her son, Horus. Isis sits, her broad shoulders and narrow waist characteristic of Egyptian sculpture from this period, holding the infant Horus on her lap. Her gaze is directed forward, imparting a sense of quiet dignity and maternal protection. Horus, identifiable by the side-lock of youth on his head, reaches up towards his mother, creating a poignant connection between the figures. The choice of hematite, a dense, metallic-looking stone, gives the amulet a weighty, enduring quality, suggesting its importance as a protective charm. Such amulets were believed to imbue the wearer with the divine protection and nurturing power of Isis, a powerful goddess revered for her role as a mother and healer in ancient Egyptian mythology.
- Artist
- Saks Fifth Avenue
- Date
- -747
- Medium
- Hematite
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 4 × 1.6 × 2.5 cm (1/16 × 5/8 × 1 in.); 4 × 1.6 × 2.5 cm (1/16 × 5/8 × 1 in.)
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The side-lock of youth on Horus's head, identifying him as a child.
Isis's regal headdress, though simplified in this small carving.
The way Horus reaches up towards his mother, a gesture of dependency.
The dark, lustrous surface of the hematite, reflecting light subtly.
Saks Fifth Avenue
From a Washington D.C. men's shop in 1867 to a Fifth Avenue icon, Saks dressed America's elite for over 150 years.
