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Egyptian Amulets

• 
  Elephant, Late Naqada II (ca. 3650–3300 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Serpentine, bone
  Rogers Fund, 1959 (59.101.1)
  
• 
  Hand and foot amulets, Dynasty 5–8 (ca. 2465–2100 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Carnelian
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (foot: 10.130.2355; hand: 10.130.2358)
  
• 
  Sa sign, Dynasty 11, reign of Mentuhotep II, ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
  Egyptian; Thebes, Mentuhotep Temple, North Triangular Court, Pit 23
  Electrum, silver
  Rogers Fund, 1925 (25.3.253)
  
• 
  Hedgehog amulet on a string, Dynasty 12 (ca. 1981–1802 B.C.)
  Egyptian; Lisht North, Pit 995
  Glazed steatite, reed
  Rogers Fund, 1922 (22.1.301)
  
• 
  Hippo's head, Dynasty 12 (ca. 1981–1802 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Beryl
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.2310)
  
• 
  Head of a cobra, Dynasty 12–13 (ca. 1981–1640 B.C.)
  Egyptian; Lisht North
  Carnelian
  Rogers Fund, 1909 (09.180.2455)
  
• 
  Fish, Dynasty 12–13 (ca. 1981–1640 B.C.)
  Egyptian; Lisht North, Tomb L847
  Gold, beryl
  Rogers Fund, 1909 (09.180.1182)
  
• 
  Scarab ring, Dynasty 12 (ca. 1981–1802 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Amethyst, copper
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.910)
  
  Scarab with the name of Hatshepsut, early Dynasty 18, reign of Hatshepsut, ca. 1473–1458 B.C.
  Egyptian
  Glazed steatite
  Rogers Fund, 1927 (27.3.206)
  
  Heart scarab of Ruru, Dynasty 18–20 (ca. 1550–1070 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Dark green stone
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.1650)
  
  Naturalistic scarab, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (ca. 688–30 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Alabaster
  Bequest of Mary Anna Palmer Draper, 1915 (15.43.136)
  
• 
  Tyet sign, early Dynasty 18 (ca. 1550–1458 B.C.)
  Egyptian; Abydos, Cemetery D, Tomb 33
  Jasper
  Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1900 (00.4.39)
  
• 
  Heart amulets, Dynasty 18–19 (ca. 1550–1186 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Glass
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.1782)
  
  Heart amulets, Dynasty 19–20 (ca. 1295–1070 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Agate
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.1804)
  
• 
  Bes image, Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1070–712 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.878)
  
• 
  Aegis of Sekhmet or Bastet, Third Intermediate Period and later (ca. 1070–332 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910 (10.130.2055)
  
• 
  Taweret, Late Period (ca. 712–332 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904 (04.2.365)
  
• 
  Nepthysis, Horus, and Isis, Dynasty 26 (ca. 688–525 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.194.2444)
  
• 
  Baboon with a wedjet eye, Dynasty 26 (ca. 688–525 B.C.)

  Egyptian
  Faience
  Rogers Fund, 1944 (44.4.41)
  
• 
  Anubis, Dynasty 26–30 (ca. 688–332 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904 (04.2.151)
  
• 
  Djed pillar, Late Period (ca. 688–332 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of Lucy W. Drexel, 1889 (89.2.539)
  
• 
  Sobek as a crocodile, early Ptolemaic Period (ca. 304–247 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Faience
  Gift of Norbert Schimmel Trust, 1989 (1989.281.96)
  
• 
  Wedjet eye, Ptolemaic Period (ca. 304–30 B.C.)
  Egyptian
  Gold
  Rogers Fund, 1923 (23.2.68)
  

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An amulet is a small object that a person wears, carries, or offers to a deity because he or she believes that it will magically bestow a particular power or form of protection. The conviction that a symbol, form, or concept provides protection, promotes well-being, or brings good luck is common to all societies: in our own, we commonly wear religious symbols, carry a favorite penny, or a rabbit's foot. In ancient Egypt, amulets might be carried, used in necklaces, bracelets, or rings, and—especially—placed among a mummy's bandages to ensure the deceased a safe, healthy, and productive afterlife.

In ancient Egypt, amulets might be carried, used in necklaces, bracelets, or rings, and—especially—placed among a mummy's bandages to ensure the deceased a safe, healthy, and productive afterlife.

Related

Timelines (3)

• Egypt, 1000 b.c.–1 a.d.
• Egypt, 2000–1000 b.c.
• Egypt, 8000–2000 b.c.

Primary Thematic Essays (3)

• Egypt in the Middle Kingdom (ca.2030-1640 B.C.)
• Egypt in the New Kingdom (ca.1550-1070 B.C.)
• Egypt in the Old Kingdom (ca. 2649-2150 B.C.)

Other Thematic Essays (13)

• Antique Engraved Gems and Renaissance Collectors
• Egypt in the Third Intermediate Period (1070-713 B.C.)
• Egyptian Tombs: Life Along the Nile
• Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt
• List of Rulers of Ancient Egypt and Nubia
• List of Rulers of Ancient Sudan
• Medicine in the Middle Ages
• Popular Religion: Magical Uses of Imagery in Byzantine Art
• Precious Metals from Tell Basta
• Queens and Princesses in the Pyramid Complex of Senwosret III, Dahshur
• The Temples of Senwosret III at Dahshur
• Turkmen Jewelry
• Tutankhamun's Funeral

Maps (4)

• Africa, 1000 B.C.-1 A.D.
• Africa, 2000-1000 B.C.
• Africa, 8000-2000 B.C.
• World, 2000-1000 B.C.

Index Terms (26)

Art Movement/Style

• 21st–24th Dynasties of Egypt in the 3rd Intermediate Period
• Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom
• Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt in the New Kingdom
• Egyptian Art in the Pre–Dynastic Period
• Egyptian Art in the Late Naqada I to Early Naqada II Age of the Pre–Dynastic Period

Geography/Place

• Egypt

Material and Technique

• Bone
• Faience

Object

• Amulet
• Accessories for Clothing
• Personal Ornament
• Necklace

Subject Matter/Theme

• Feline
• Rabbit
• Archaeology
• Archaeology from Africa and Egypt
• Childbirth
• Deity
• Anubis
• Bes
• Horus
• Isis
• Other Egyptian Deities
• Sekhmet
• Taweret
• Magic

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Egyptian amulets functioned in a number of ways. Symbols and deities generally conferred the powers they represent. Small models that represent known objects, such as headrests or arms and legs, served to make sure those items were available to the individual or that a specific need could be addressed. Magic contained in an amulet could be understood not only from its shape. Material, color, scarcity, the grouping of several forms, and words said or ingredients rubbed over the amulet could all be the source for magic granting the possessor's wish.




Small representations of animals seem to have functioned as amulets already in the Predynastic Period (ca. 4500–3100 B.C.). In the Old Kingdom (ca. 2649–2150 B.C.), most amulets took an animal form or were symbols (often based on hieroglyphs), although generalized human forms occurred. Amulets depicting recognizable deities begin to appear in the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030–1640 B.C.), and the New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1070 B.C.) showed a further increase in the range of amulet forms. With the Third Intermediate Period (ca. 1070–712 B.C.), there was an explosion in the quantity of amulets, and many new types, especially deities, appeared.



Diana Craig Patch Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Citation Patch, Diana Craig. "Egyptian Amulets". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/egam/hd_egam.htm (October 2004) Related exhibitions and online features Special Exhibitions (including upcoming, current, and past exhibitions)

These related Museum Bulletin or Journal articles may or may not represent the most current scholarship. Fischer, Henry George "Egyptian Turtles." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 24, no. 6 (February, 1966). JSTOR | PDF Scott, Nora E. "Egyptian Jewelry." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 22, no. 7 (March, 1964). JSTOR | PDF