An Ancient Egyptian faience amulet depicting the Egyptian goddess Isis nursing her infant son Horus on her lap. She is seated on a throne, and nestles the infant god in the crook of her left arm, whilst her right is drawn up towards her breast. The goddess wears a crown, possibly the Shuti crown, which is made up of ram horns. A thin dorsal pillar is visible to the back of the amulet. There is a hole pierced horizontally through the back of the goddess's crown for suspension. The amulet would have originally been blue, but the fading of colours as well as earthly encrustations make it appear brown. Earthly encrustations and pitting to the surface. The Egyptians wore amulets alongside other pieces of jewellery. They were decorative, but also served a practical purpose, being considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many of the amulets have been found inside the wrappings of mummies, as they were used to prepare the deceased for the afterlife. Isis is often shown in the pose of nursing her son, Horus, as it reflects her role as life-giver and protector. She is the goddess most commonly associated with birth and creation, on account of her role in the Osirian myth. The goddess enjoyed widespread worship, which extended beyond the confines of Egypt – indeed, the secret cult of Isis in the Roman Empire received frequent mention in literature. Measurements: Circa H 3.3cm x W 1cm Provenance: Early 20th Century UK Collection