An Egyptian Faience Ithyphallic Amulet, Late Period, ca. 664 - 332 BCE

Blue-green glazed faience ithyphallic figure of a man, shown kneeling, his large phallus extended in front. Pierced through the center for attachment.  Background: The Ancient Egyptians related the cult of phallus with Osiris. When Osiris' body was cut into 13 pieces, Seth scattered them all over Egypt, and his wife Isis retrieved all of them except one, his penis, which was swallowed by a fish. Medium: Faience Dimensions: Length: 2.8 cm (1.1 inches) Condition: Overall intact and in very good condition. Provenance: Private Maryland collection of a diplomat, acquired while serving in Egypt between 1949 and 1956, and then by descent.