Ox Leg Amulet

The amulet forms the foreleg of an ox. This ritual object was essential for the mummy’s magical revival. At the entrance to the tomb, during the so-called Opening of the Mouth Ceremony at the time of burial, the foreleg of an ox was cut off, and the still bloody flesh was presented to the deceased. However, leg-shaped models were not found in tombs, their surviving copies were typically put in foundation deposits in the New Kingdom, i.e., gifts dedicated to new buildings, especially temples, which were placed under or next to the building to ensure the success of the enterprise. Accordingly, they may have had a magical role as food offerings to the gods to ensure the success of the construction.