Counterweight of a Menat Necklace

Artist Unidentified

Period Late Period (Ancient Egyptian, 664–332 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 26 (Saite) (Ancient Egyptian, 664–525 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 27 (Persian) (Ancient Egyptian, 525–404 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 28 (Ancient Egyptian, 404–399 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 29 (Ancient Egyptian, 399–380 BCE)

Dynasty Dynasty 30 (Ancient Egyptian, 380–343 BCE)

Place of OriginEgypt

Date26th–30th Dynasties (664–332 BCE)

Dimensions2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm)

MediumGlazed faience

ClassificationJewelry

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1906.63A

Not on View

DescriptionBlue(?) glaze, gone green to brown over much of its surface.

Label TextThis curved object once formed the counterweight of a menat necklace, a ritual adornment sacred to the goddess Hathor. Made of blue-green glazed faience, it would have hung on the back of the neck, balancing multiple strands of beads draped across the chest. Priestesses, musicians, and temple attendants often wore or carried menat necklaces in processions and ceremonies. When shaken by hand, the beads and counterweight produced a rattling sound believed to soothe the gods, much like the sistrum, another Hathoric instrument.