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Ancient Egypt · c. 3100 BCE – 400 CE

Apotropaic wands (birth tusks)

Meaning

Curved wands of hippopotamus ivory carry a procession of protective beings: Taweret, the lion-dwarf Aha (an early Bes), griffins, frogs, sun-discs and knife-wielding demons. Their inscriptions promise protection 'by night and by day' for a named mother and child.

Intent

Scholars think they were used to draw a protective circle around the mother and newborn, perhaps traced on the floor round the bed, and were kept afterwards. Their worn tips suggest real use. Some were later placed in the owner's tomb.

Significance

They are the most elaborate evidence for Middle Kingdom birth magic and preserve demon-fighting figures that would later become household gods. The choice of hippopotamus ivory, from the most dangerous animal, turns danger into defence.

History

Apotropaic wands date from the late Old Kingdom to the Second Intermediate Period, concentrated in the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000–1650 BCE). Around 150 are known, found in Thebes, Lisht, Abydos and elsewhere. They then disappear, their imagery passing to beds, headrests and Bes figures.

Making yours
25–40 cm curved blade cut from a split hippo tusk. Incised line work on one face, sometimes pigment-filled. Bone or resin substitutes work well.
Ancient Egypt: the tradition

Amulets appear in Egyptian graves before writing, in the Badarian and Naqada cultures of the fifth and fourth millennia BCE, as shells, stones and simple animal shapes. With the Old Kingdom the repertoire grew into a systematic vocabulary of hieroglyph signs, gods and animals, and by the New Kingdom the Book of the Dead prescribed which amulet went where on the mummy. Mass production in faience from open moulds put them within reach of almost everyone. The Late and Ptolemaic periods (664–30 BCE) are the peak of variety, when a single mummy might carry dozens. The tradition outlived the pharaohs, feeding Graeco-Roman magical gems, Coptic Christianity and, through Phoenician traders, the whole Mediterranean. Flinders Petrie's 1914 catalogue counted 275 types.

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Magic knife fragmentMagic knife fragmentEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1775 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMagic Wand Depicting a Procession of DeitiesMagic Wand Depicting a Procession of Deitiesbetween circa 1880 and circa 1700 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1880-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1700-00-0Apotropaic Aker wandApotropaic Aker wandEgyptian Middle KingdomMagic wandMagic wandEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMagic WandMagic Wandcirca 1900 date QS:P571,+1900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, miFlickrFlickrEgyptian Middle KingdomMagic wandMagic wandEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMagic Wand fragmentMagic Wand fragmentcirca 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1775 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMedio regno, amuleto in avorio con grifone, divinità, dea con testa di leonessa, XI-XII dinastia, 2160-1785 ac.Medio regno, amuleto in avorio con grifone, divinità, dea con testa di leonessa, XI-XII dinastia, 2160-1785 ac.Egyptian Middle KingdomMagic wandMagic wandEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1802 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12Magic knife fragments (2)Magic knife fragments (2)circa 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 307Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 307Egyptian Middle KingdomMagic Wand fragmentMagic Wand fragmentEgyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1775 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMagic wandMagic wandcirca 1900 date QS:P571,+1900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1802 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to end DynÄgyptisches Museum Leipzig 309Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 309Egyptian Middle KingdomMagic wandMagic wandcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 310Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 310Egyptian Middle KingdomMagic wand fragmentMagic wand fragmentcirca 1900 date QS:P571,+1900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1802 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to end DynÄgyptisches Museum Leipzig 308Ägyptisches Museum Leipzig 308Egyptian Middle KingdomMagic wand fragmentMagic wand fragmentcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1550 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasFragment of a Magic KnifeFragment of a Magic Knifecirca 1550 date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1295 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18Magic WandMagic Wandcirca 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic knife fragmentMagic knife fragmentcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Magic wandMagic wandcirca 1750 date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 13Magic wandMagic wandcirca 2124 date QS:P571,+2124-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1504 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic wandMagic wandcirca 2124 date QS:P571,+2124-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1504 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic wand fragmentMagic wand fragmentcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1550 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic WandMagic Wandcirca 1900 date QS:P571,+1900-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, miMagic knife fragments (2)Magic knife fragments (2)circa 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Magic wandMagic wandcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1550 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic wandMagic wandcirca 2124 date QS:P571,+2124-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1504 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic wand fragmentMagic wand fragmentcirca 1802 date QS:P571,+1802-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 13Magic wand fragmentMagic wand fragmentcirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1550 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasA fragment of a magic wand illustrating a frog headed deityA fragment of a magic wand illustrating a frog headed deitycirca 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Magic knife fragmentsMagic knife fragmentscirca 1750 date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to late dyMagic WandMagic Wandcirca 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom–Early New Kingdom DynasMagic knife fragmentsMagic knife fragmentscirca 1750 date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to late dyMagic wandMagic wandcirca 2030 date QS:P571,+2030-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12Magic Wand fragmentMagic Wand fragmentcirca 1850 date QS:P571,+1850-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1775 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12, laMagic knife fragmentsMagic knife fragmentscirca 1750 date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to late dyMagic wandMagic wandca. 1981–1640 B.C.Magic knife fragments (2)Magic knife fragments (2)circa 1981 date QS:P571,+1981-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13Magic knife fragmentsMagic knife fragmentscirca 1750 date QS:P571,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1640 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: mid to late dyEB1911 Egypt - Early Art - Ivory Wand, with AnimalsEB1911 Egypt - Early Art - Ivory Wand, with AnimalsMagic knive (part) (5111775392)Magic knive (part) (5111775392)At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2017 30 - Magic WandAt the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2017 30 - Magic WandEgyptian Carved Throwing Sticks (36462738021)Egyptian Carved Throwing Sticks (36462738021)Golden Dawn Regalia in the Museum of Witchcraft and MagicGolden Dawn Regalia in the Museum of Witchcraft and MagicKay AmenemhatKay AmenemhatMagic knife (5111172849)Magic knife (5111172849)By Nile and TigrisBy Nile and TigrisStaatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst 009Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst 009A guide to the third and fourth Egyptian rooms - predynastic antiquites, mummied birds and animals, portrait statues, figures of gods, tools, implements and weapons, scarabs, amulets, jewellery, and (A guide to the third and fourth Egyptian rooms - predynastic antiquites, mummied birds and animals, portrait statues, figures of gods, tools, implements and weapons, scarabs, amulets, jewellery, and (Apotropaic knife for protecting a nursery, Egypt, hippopotamus tuskApotropaic knife for protecting a nursery, Egypt, hippopotamus tuskBirth tusk EA24426Birth tusk EA24426Apotropaic WandApotropaic WandMagic ivory wandMagic ivory wandWand Sebkay DaressyWand Sebkay Daressy

More from Ancient Egypt: Scarabs & scaraboids · Heart scarabs & heart amulets · Wedjat eye (Eye of Horus) · Djed, tyet, ankh & hieroglyph signs · Funerary tool & body amulets · Bes & Taweret, guardians of the household · Gods & goddesses · Sacred animals · Hands, fists & faces · Cippi of Horus (healing stelae) · Hypocephali & amulet sets · Other & unsorted Ancient Egypt
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.