NEAR EASTERN BLACK STONE BIRD AMULET

Ca. 323 - 146 BC.
A Near Eastern stylised black stone bird amulet with closed wings. It's elongated body is connected to a short head. It has a horizontal hole drilled on the upper part of the shoulders. In many cultures, birds were associated with the soul or spirit and were believed to possess qualities of transcendence and freedom. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the ba, or soul, was often depicted as a bird with a human head. This represents the eternal aspect of the individual that could travel between the earthly and divine realms. Similarly, in Greek and Roman mythology, birds such as doves and eagles were associated with gods and goddesses and were believed to carry messages between heaven and earth.
Size: 25mm x 10mm; Weight: 1g
Provenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014, acquired from Pierre Berge, 29 April, 2006, lot 474.