Ancient Egypt, Third Intermediate to Late Dynastic Period, 21st to 31st Dynasty, ca. 1070 to 332 BCE. An incredibly rare faience amulet depicting Meretseger (also Mertseger or Merseger), a cobra god with the head of a human female. Known as "She who loves silence", the right-facing goddess presents with a slender serpentine body bearing a tall curve in the back, and with a slightly flared hood beneath the feminine visage. Atop Meretseger's head is a headdress that, while worn, would likely depict a pair of additional faces surrounded by feathers - those of a snake and a vulture. Size: 0.17" L x 0.71" W x 1.38" H (0.4 cm x 1.8 cm x 3.5 cm)

According to author Manfred Lurker, "The Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes (modern Luxor) lies in the shadow of a naturally pyramid-shaped hill known as the 'Lady of the Peak'. The goddess of this area was Mert-Seger 'She who loves silence', and she was particularly worshipped by the necropolis workmen. She presided over the whole Theban necropolis and is usually represented as a snake goddess, a uraeus with a woman's head, or sometimes as a scorpion with a female head." (Lurker, Manfred. "The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Egypt: An Illustrated Dictionary." Thames & Hudson, London, 1986, p. 80).

Concurrently author Paul Hamlyn explains how, "Although Mertseger was benevolent she could also punish. We have the confession of Neferabu, a modest employee at the necropolis, who admits to having been justly stricken with illness for his sins. Afterwards he proclaims that he has been cured by 'the Peak of the West', having first repented and ardently besought her forgiveness." (Paul Hamlyn Ltd. "Egyptian Mythology." Tudor Publishing Company, New York, 1965, p. 114).

Cf. a similar example depicting Hathor as a cobra at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 17.194.2245; a larger stone effigy of Meretseger from the New Kingdom at The Brooklyn Museum, accession number 37.1749E.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#182091

Light earthen deposits, with softening to some finer details, a stable pressure fissure along the bottom of the body, and fading to glaze pigment in some raised areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to overall form.