Golden Necklace (Dendera Treasure Hoards)

 Ptolemaic Golden Necklace (Dendera Treasure Hoards)
Ptolemaic Golden Necklace (Dendera Treasure Hoards)
 

GEM Number

2554

Collection

Main Galleries

Period

Graeco-Roman

Description

The so-called ‘Dendera Treasure Hoards’ were caches of spectacular objects of great art-historical value that were discovered in the area between the Dendera temple and its enclosure wall. Some objects, like this Ptolemaic golden necklace, were part of a hoard confiscated in 1914 at Dendera. The necklace is made of a gold wire closed with two hooks. Hanging from this wire are ten symbolic figures (from the left): Taweret (hippopotamus goddess of childbirth), goddess Isis seated, two falcons wearing the double crown, two human-headed birds wearing the solar disc between two horns, two more falcons wearing the double crown, a wedjat eye and a standing figure of god Nefertum.

Region
Upper Egypt
Area
Qena

Height

14 cm

Width

4 cm

Length

12 cm

Diameter

12.5 cm