Amulets are magic objects which are carried on the
person. The Egyptian words that refer to these objects are "sa" and
"mkt" which are used for protective objects alone and
"wedjet" which is used to refer to talisman as well.
The first amulets of
Ancient Egypt date to about 4000 BCE and are found among burial goods in graves. The most
common type found from this time period is a female hippopotomi.
These objects could be either man made or natural items. Heka was believed to
exist in strange and rare objects. Also natural items that resembled something else were
thought to have a kind of sympathetic magic. Shells that resembled female genitals were used
to make girdles which were worn around the waist and pelvis to ensure fertility. Some
amulets were made of less long lasting natural items such as herbs, animal parts or hair
wrapped in linen and tied with a cord. Even a knotted cord could be an amulet. A spell
describes Isis, Nephthys and Hedijhotep spinning and weaving linen cord for a health amulet
which was then knotted by Neith. There were several subcatagories of amulets that each had
distinct qualities and were used for somewhat different purposes.
The first sub-catagory
of amulet is the "talisman" which enhances a quality in a person
or promotes success in their endeavors rather than providing protection.
Miniatures of objects with hieroglyphs are a seperate sub-catagory, they are called "cippi" and were for the protection of a single person. Both
images and words are important in a cippi. Simple versions of longer spells are found
inscribed on cippi and their power was considered to reside primarily in these
inscriptions.
Another subcatagory
is words themselves. Names of neteru, people and objects
were considered to have great power over them. Many stories of the Neteru mention their
hidden or secret names. Hieroglyphic words or the names of Neteru were inscribed on papyrus
or linen and tied or folded and kept with a person or worn as a necklace.
Mythical and miniature ritual
item amulets are perhaps the largest catagory. They include
wadjet eye, sistrum, isis knot,eye of Horus, scarabs, djed pillar ect. These
were used to provide protection and to enhance magic.
Yet another type is an inscribed
amulet meant to be worn as jewlery. These are especially common in the later
periods.
Many amulets of a sexual nature have also been found. These were used to
increase sexual prowess or to insure fertility.
Sekhmet Amulets have been
found by the thousands and must have been a favorite of ancient egyptians. This item
protected against the diseases caused by the wrath of Sekhmet.
Amulet
Pictures Have Come From These Sources
Hippo amulet, papyrus
amulet, Miniature amulet from the Kelsey Museum
Lion-headed goddesses from the Egyptian
Museum, Cairo.
Erotic amulet from the British Museum
