Romano-Egyptian Gold Mount with Animals and Birds

1st century BC-2nd century AD. A gold circular mount comprising the eye of Ra surrounded by animals in low-relief, among which we can recognise a jackal (Anubis), the royal cobra (uraeus), an ibis (associated with the god Thoth), a dolphin (associated with the goddess Isis), a cat (associated with Bastet), a hawk (associated with Horus), a scarab beetle (symbol of the solar disc); the border showing a beaded ornamentation. 3 grams, 21mm (3/4"). Acquired London, 1980s. Rogers collection, Suffolk, UK. The eye of Ra was expression of the violent power of the goddess Hathor, and an important part of the Egyptian conception of female divinity. In the Ptolemaic Greek and Roman ages the flight of the eye of Ra was a common feature of temple ritual, at a time in the calendar coinciding with the new year and the Nile flood, when the return of the eye after her wanderings in foreign lands was celebrated. The Egyptians built shrines along the river containing images of animals rejoicing at the goddess' arrival (Pinch, 2002, pp.90-91").
Condition Report: Fine condition.