Aegis amulet with a lion-headed goddess

From the 18th dynasty onwards, the aegis appeared as an element of the menat (counterpoise necklace), as a part of the counterpoise. The necklace was usually held in its owner’s hand and functioned as a ritual rattle. It was thought to appease the dangerous power of God, and thus it provided protection. It represents a wide, beadwork collar (wesekh collar) surmounted by the head of a deity, most frequently of a lion- or cat-headed goddess (Isis, Sakhmet or Hathor). The aegis became popular from the Third Intermediate Period onwards, and it could be made in various forms, sizes and materials, it also appeared as an amulet at this time. This fragment represents a lion-headed divinity above the wesekh collar with two falcon-headed terminals. The divinity wears a large sun disk and a uraeus cobra on her tripartite wig. The under part of the amulet is broken off, but the loop for suspension behind the sun disk was well preserved. It was thought to guard its wearer by the protecting power of the god depicted on it.