An Egyptian Bronze Amulet of Wepwawet, Late Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664 - 525 BCE

hollow cast in the round using the lost wax method and elegantly proportioned, with naturalistic details, the jackal god standing on a rectangular base, with an alert expression, pointed ears, slender body, with muscular hind legs and paws and long bushy tail. A suspension loop at the back for attachment.

Wepwawet was an Egyptian jackal god whose name means “Opener of the Ways.” As such, he helped the deceased through the frequently dangerous paths to the afterlife, clearing the way to the final judgment of the dead. Although frequently paired with Anubis in connection with protecting the dead, Wepwawet also had his own independent identity, as well as important cult centers at Asyut (known in Greek as Lykopolis, “Wolf-town”) and Abydos. Inscriptions from Lykopolis attest to his status as beloved local god. On his own, Wepwawet often appears as a standing jackal or standing jackal-headed god; when he and Anubis are paired in funerary art, the two gods are typically shown as identical seated jackals facing each other.

Condition: Uncleaned, with heavy patina, the amulet is intact and in very good condition overall.

Dimensions: Height: 3/4 inch (1.9 cm.)

Provenance: Private Maryland collection of a diplomat, acquired in Egypt between 1949 and 1956, and then by descent.