Ring with Protective Inscription

Late Period rings often bore texts invoking divine protection for their owners, both living and dead. This ring's inscription calls for "the goddess" of Heliopolis to protect Nakhthorheb, a priest of that city. Traces of sheet copper in the hieroglyphs reveal that they were overlaid with that reddish metal to enhance their visibility and appearance.

• Medium: Gold with copper overlays
• Geographical Location: Heliopolis, Egypt
• Dates: ca. 664-342 B.C.E.
• Dynasty: XXVI Dynasty-XXX Dynasty
• Period: Late Period
• Dimensions: Diam. of shank: 13/16 in. (2.1 cm) Bezel: 3/8 x 5/8 in. (1 x 1.6 cm)
• Collection: Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
• Museum Location: Brooklyn Museum, BMA, EXHIBITION-3, ECAMEA-3G81
• Accession Number: 58.96
• Image: "West Wing gallery 8 installation", CUR.58.96_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Nov 30, 2008

Catalogue Description:
Gold ring. Bezel in form of base of a scarab; flat; wide shank. finely incised inscription on bezel not entirely understood but apparently recording the priestly titles of one Nakht-hor-heb. Inscription overlaid with sheet of gold with high alloy of copper.