An Egyptian Feldspar Writing Tablet Amulet, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCE

Amulets in the form of a writing tablet are unique to the Twenty-sixth Dynasty and later. They are always rectangular in shape with a suspension tube at the top and made from green, blue or dark-coloured material, feldspar being by far the most common. Although the Egyptians used labels in this shape as a writing medium from as early as the First Dynasty, this amulet may well represent rather an undetailed scribe's writing palette which was specifically requested by Chapter 94 of the Book of the Dead: 'Bring me a palette from the writing kit of Thoth and the mysteries which are in them.' With such an amulet, the deceased would be granted power over whichever magic formula he required in the Other World. This example is of mottled green feldspar with a small suspension loop at the top.Ref: Andrews, Carol, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt. Austin: University of Texas, p. 86, 98, no. 99b.Condition:  The amulet is intact and in very good condition overall.Dimensions: Height: 5/8 inch (1.5 cm