Mesopotamian Agate Amulet in the Shape of a Turtle

Culture: Mesopotamia

Period: 2nd millennium B.C.

Material: Agate

Dimensions: 3.4 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 6324

Provenance: American private collection, acquired in the 1980s. Last in a New York auction house.

Condition: Intact

Description: Amulet of a turtle of wonderfully banded agate. The animal with a round shell and flat underside. The small, protruding head with two small perforations on top, once with inlays. The four extremities are elongated. To the left of the head a small hole for suspension. In Mesopotamia the turtle was not only a sought-after food but also attributed with healing power, the reason why it was worn as an amulet.