Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Egyptian Amulets

An amulet is a small charm worn to afford its owner magical protection or to convey certain qualities.

Commemorative scarab amulet of Amenhotep III, c. 1390–1352 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

From the Badarian period onward, Egyptian amulets held significant importance for both the living and the deceased. These protective charms were meticulously placed within mummy wrappings, each serving a specific purpose in safeguarding the individual in the afterlife. Among the most notable of these was the heart scarab, designed to ensure the protection of the heart during the journey through the underworld.

Crafted from a diverse array of materials including faience, glass, and precious stones, Egyptian amulets took on a multitude of forms, ranging from sacred objects to depictions of animals and hieroglyphs. Particularly from the New Kingdom onward, deities such as Bes and Taweret became popular subjects for these amulets, reflecting the widespread belief in their protective powers. These intricate artifacts not only adorned the living but also accompanied the deceased on their journey to the realm of the afterlife, emphasizing the enduring significance of spiritual protection in ancient Egyptian culture.

Faience amulet depicting Taweret, c. 664–332 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience amulet depicting Taweret, c. 664–332 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience amulet that depicts Thoth as a baboon holding the Eye of Horus;, c.664–332 BC. Walters Art Museum.
Faience amulet that depicts Thoth as a baboon holding the Eye of Horus;, c.664–332 BC. Walters Art Museum.
Gold amulet in the form of Heryshaf seated on a lotus, c. 1069–332 BC. Louvre.
Gold amulet in the form of Heryshaf seated on a lotus, c. 1069–332 BC. Louvre. (c) Rama
Faience amulet of the goddess Wadjyt as a cobra, 664–332 B.C. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience amulet of the goddess Wadjyt as a cobra, 664–332 B.C. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience ankh amulet. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience ankh amulet. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience amulet of Bes, c. 1070-712 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Faience amulet of Bes, c. 1070-712 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Scarabs

The heart amulet, often fashioned in the likeness of the scarab beetle, held profound significance in ancient Egyptian belief. Symbolizing the creator and solar deity Khepri, the scarab embodied themes of regeneration and renewal, serving as a potent emblem of new life and resurrection.

Scarab amulets, c. 1981–1802 BC. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This amulet was meticulously placed over the heart of the deceased during mummification, with the belief that it would safeguard the heart in the afterlife, ensuring the individual’s journey to eternal rebirth. As a powerful symbol of cosmic renewal, the scarab amulet played a vital role in the intricate funerary rituals of ancient Egypt, offering protection and spiritual guidance to the departed soul on its passage through the realms of existence.The protective amulet for the heart was in the form of the scarab beetle, the manifestation of the creator and solar deity Khepri. It was a symbol of new life and resurrection.