I love this display at the MET because not only do I love tiny things, but these small πππ΄π © animal statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ have a lot of significance!
Letβs first talk about the red π§πππ jasper hippo πππ―! Instead of the usual standing position, this hippo πππ― is laying down and might have been used as an amulet ππͺπ because there is actually a hole going through it! In Egypt ππ ππ, hippos πππ―π¦ were both feared and respected πππ because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley π. However, hippos πππ―π¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π ππ‘π against evil πππππ ¨, which is what this amulet ππͺπ would have done for the wearer! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom.
The amethyst figure behind the hippo πππ― is of a monkey πΌπΏππ holding its baby! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom but it is very similar in style to some Old Kingdom pieces that are also at the MET! Monkeys πΌπΏπππͺ are not native to Egypt ππ ππ and were actually pets for the very wealthy. This figure also has a loophole in it and would have been used as an amulet ππͺπ . Usually the image ππ ±π of a mother and child is associated with fertility and rebirth.
The three little figures behind the amethyst monkey πΌπΏππ are little desert rodents called βjerboa ππΏπ΄π. I thought they were mice πͺπππ at first and had to look up jerboa in both English and hieroglyphs πΉππͺ – I love learning new things! The symbolic meaning of these Middle Kingdom statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ are unknown, but they were buried with someone! The jerboa ππΏπ΄π is a small desert rodent and these animals first show up as statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ during this time period; none have been found dated to the Old Kingdom!
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