{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O382174"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O382174/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND3992/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022ND3992/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022ND3992","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022ND5067","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2022ND3991","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O382174/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O382174","accessionNumber":"5589-1901","objectType":"Aegis","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Ancient Egyptians worshipped a vast pantheon and utilised a variety of religious ritual objects in their daily life. Aegis were frequently used as objects of protection and worship. One could be placed on standard poles, built into architecture, or worn as a jewellery. The pieces predominantly depicted female goddesses and the majority of those which survive to this day feature the cat-headed goddess, Sekhmet. The goddess depicted in this object is likely Isis or her sister Nephthys. Notably, Isis and Nephthys are traditionally depicted wearing a signature headdress, the sun globe and basket respectively, which is not present in this object. Every part of this aegis is designed to link to divinity and status. The hemispheric design of the aegis mimics the usekh collar. The usekh was a popular necklace in ancient Egypt, made up of radiating rows of beads to create a large, grandiose collar. These collars could be made up of shells and glass beads for poorer members of society, or gold, faience and gemstones for Pharaohs and the elite.  The lavishly decorated necklaces were status symbols and were often given as gifts to dignitaries and the highest members of Egyptian society. The goddess wears a lappet wig, typical of an elite Egyptian, underneath a crown of urei, or snakes. The ureus was a reared snake, and the image was frequently used in royal imagery and crowns.\r\n\r\nThis object is part of a collection transferred to the South Kensington Museum from The Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, in 1901.","physicalDescription":"Bronze aegis depicting a female goddess wearing a straight wig. Semi-circular body in the form of esekh collar, decorated with concentric design of lotus leaves and flowers. The goddess wears a ureus crown (crown of snakes), and is flanked by bird heads, likely a hawk or falcon.  Four rivets soldered to reverse. A modern cork has been inserted into the goddess's cylindrical head.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Bronze","id":"x40014"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Cast","id":"x32615"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[],"styles":[{"text":"egyptian","id":"AAT107253"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2022ND3992","2022ND5067","2022ND3991"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"023","id":"THES407143"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bronze","id":"AAT10957"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Transferred from Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bronze aegis (shield) of Isis or Nephthys, Egyptian, late dynastic.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["5589-1901"],"accessionNumberNum":"5589","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1901,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-10","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}