Pottery Tile (EC403)

3D Model

A pottery tile in the shape of a sa-sign. It is made of pottery with a greenish glaze. It was purchased by Wellcome in 1930. The sa sign is a hieroglyphic symbol meaning protection, which may originally have represented the rolled-up reed mat, which would have sheltered herdsmen; or it may have been a papyrus ‘life vest’ for boatmen. It was used either as a sign in its own right or as a symbol held by deities such as Bes and Taweret. A similar sa-sign was found by Garstang.