Udjat Eye Ring

Possible OriginAmarna, Egypt, Africa

CultureEgyptian

PeriodNew Kingdom, Dynasty 18

Date1539-1292 BCE

MediumFaience

Credit LineGift of the Georges Ricard Foundation

Dimensions7/16 x 7/8 x 7/8 in., 1 g (1.1 x 2.2 x 2.2 cm, 1/16 oz.)

Object number2018.010.972

Label TextThe Udjat eye, or the Eye of Horus, was one of the most powerful amulets in ancient Egypt. Udjat, meaning “whole,” represents a human eye combined with the Horus-falcon's markings. Horus’s eyes were torn out in the mythical conflict between Horus and his rival Seth. One eye was restored, symbolizing regeneration. Rings in the form of an udjat eye were often mass-produced as inexpensive jewelry.
Exhibition HistoryLife and the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Art from the Senusret Collection, Michael C. Carlos Museum, February 4 - August 6, 2023
Published ReferencesMelinda K. Hartwig, ed. Life and the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Art from the Senusret Collection (Atlanta: Michael C. Carlos Museum, 2023), catalogue entry 10.

ProvenanceEx coll. Georges Ricard Foundation, Santa Barbara, California, possibly purchased from Jean-François Mignon, Aix-en Provence, France.

Status

Not on view

Collections