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Ring with Protective Inscription

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

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
  • Possible Place Collected: Heliopolis, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 664–342 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 26 to Dynasty 30
    PERIOD Late Period
    DIMENSIONS 13/16 in. (2.1 cm) Bezel: 3/8 x 5/8 in. (1 x 1.6 cm)  (show scale)
    INSCRIPTIONS ”May the goddesses of Heliopolis protect the God’s Father of Heliopolis, Nakh-hor-he b,” [Letter of J. Yoyotte, 7 Oct. 1960].
    ACCESSION NUMBER 58.96
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    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. Condition: Intact.
    CAPTION Ring with Protective Inscription, ca. 664–342 B.C.E. Gold with copper overlays, 13/16 in. (2.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 58.96. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.58.96_wwg8.jpg)
    IMAGE installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation, CUR.58.96_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Ring with Protective Inscription</em>, ca. 664–342 B.C.E. Gold with copper overlays, 13/16 in. (2.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 58.96. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.58.96_wwg8.jpg)

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