Amulet of Thoth: throw cushion

Thoth was a multi-faceted, truly ancient deity. He was associated with the moon, with the recording of time and kings’ reigns, with the creation of written language, and was the patron deity of scribes.

This Late Period amulet of the god was discovered in the ancient city of Memphis, and is of a beautifully ornate construction. In his hands, he holds a wadjet-eye – or Eye of Horus – as a symbol of rebirth and protection.

And now you can show off your Egyptology geekery by adorning your living room with this gorgeous throw cushion.

These soft, yet hard-wearing, 33 × 48 cm cushions are made from faux suede and each one is individually cut and sewn by hand. The design is printed on the front, with a stone-colour back.

The amulet featured in this photo is just 6 cm tall and was the flagship image for the Garstang Museum of Archaeology’s Creatures of the Nile exhibition. It’s been photographed using a macro lens and carefully lit to bring out the detail and texture. The finished image is, in fact, a composite created from 180 individual photographs.

To find out more about the amulet and how I photographed it, check out my article about it: