Sekhmet the Powerful

393, Lot: 756. Estimate $300. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Blue faience amulet of Sekhmet. Egypt, Late Period, 664-332 BC. Aegis of Sekhmet with facing head, wearing sun crown and prominent collar. Laterally pierced at head. Dimensions: 34x28mm. Some minor encrustation. Beautiful glassy glaze. Petrie, Amulets, pl. XXXV, 195.

From the Carl Devries Collection.

A terrifying deity due to her destructive nature, Sekhmet (literally “the powerful one”) had her main cult center at Thebes by the time this amulet was made (previously it had been situated at Memphis). According to myth, the goddess was sent by Ra to punish mankind for its sins, but Ra became alarmed after seeing Sekhmet’s bloodthirsty rampage and felt pity for man. In order to stop Sekhmet, he poured before her enormous quantities of beer dyed with pomegranate juice so that it resembled blood. Sekhmet devoured as much of the “blood” as she could and fell asleep after becoming heavily intoxicated, thus ending the carnage. An annual festival was held to commemorate the saving of mankind, where participants would consume beer mixed with pomegranate juice.