Amulet in the Form of a Ba as Human-Headed Bird
Description
Object Label: Ba is the Egyptian concept closest to what is meant by the English word "soul." Its composite human-and-bird form symbolizes its ability to travel to different realms. This extremely fine amulet may date to the Ptolemaic Period, but various types of gold amulets inlaid with colored stones are known from burials of Dynasties XXVI through XXX (orca 664–342 B.C.) Caption: Amulet in the Form of a Ba as Human-Headed Bird, 305–30 B.C.E.. Gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, steatite, 1 1/4 × 2 3/4 × 1/2 in. (3.2 × 7 × 1.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.804E. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
AI image analysis GPT-4o-2024-08-06
Machine-generated from the object's image on May 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.
A winged scarab pectoral with detailed blue and gold coloring.
This artifact is a winged scarab pectoral featuring outstretched wings made with intricate blue enamel or faience and gold detailing. The scarab's body is central and appears stylized, with the head highlighted in gold. The composition reflects the skillful craftsmanship typical in ancient Egyptian jewelry, emphasizing symmetry and vibrant colors.
Cross-references (2)
- BKM-Accession 37.804E tier-2
- BKM-Object 4101 tier-2
About this record's data
- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Brooklyn Museum — Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art.
- AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
- Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
- Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.