Diorite, Egyptian black and white mottled stone, 2.53 grams, 21.38 mm. Third Intermediate - Late Period, circa 1070 - 343 BC. A nicely executed 'Eye' amulet with a curving brow, with a projecting point at the inner eye and a projecting drop below, without a hole for suspension. The best known of all "protective" amulets is the wedjat eye, or "Eye of Horus", the falcon-headed son of Osiris. Ref: similar to Bonham's Lot 420, 26th April 2007. Extremely fine condition. Ex old English collection.

The Eye of Horus was believed to have healing and protective power, and it was used as a protective amulet, and as a medical measuring device, using the mathematical proportions of the eye to determine the proportions of ingredients in medical preparations) to prepare medications. The mirror image, or left eye, represented the moon, and the god Thoth, together; the eyes represent the whole of the universe. Spiritually, the right eye reflects solar, masculine energy, as well as reason and mathematics. The left eye reflects fluid, feminine, lunar energy, and rules intuition and magic. Together, they represent the combined, transcendent power of Horus.