Hand wand; ivory
Deir el Ballas; New Kingdom, Dynasty 18
6–8436
Wands with tips in the form of human hands had several functions in ancient Egypt. Dancers clapped them together to keep time to the music. Hand wands could also be protective, their sound keeping away harmful spirits during critical times such as childbirth or puberty ceremonies. This example may have been used in the worship of the goddess Hathor, whose mask is represented at the base. During a dance a single hand wand was reflected into a round mirror, a reference to Hathor’s role as the eye of the sun god Ra.
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