Fragment of a Nefertum amulet

The greenish-blue Egyptian faience fragment depicts a finely modelled walking lion. On the back of the animal, most probably the standing figure of god Nefertum was represented, stepping forward with his left foot, of which only the two feet remained. Nefertum was the primeval lotus flower upon which the young sun god rose above the waters of chaos at the beginning of creation. The god was believed to be the child of the Memphite Ptah and Sekhmet and was usually depicted with a male human body wearing a lotus headdress with two tall feathers. The figure of the deity so closely connected with creation and the solar cycle could ensure regeneration and rebirth for the owner of the amulet. This type of amulet, which depicted the god standing on the back of a crouching or walking lion appeared during the 26th dynasty (ca. 664–525 BC).