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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets and Amulet Molds

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and the molds that were used to make them!

Amulets and Amulet Molds at the MET

These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺΒ small and detailed! The amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are grape and daisy/rosette amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! In the mold on the top left (and the two grape amulets next to it), you can even see the cartouche β€œπ“‡³π“§π“Ž  Nebmaatra,” which is the throne name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†!

Flowers were really popular in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! If you look at lists of hieroglyphic symbols, there are tons of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that represent plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! The phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was found with flowers π“†Όπ“…±π“†°π“¦, as were other royal mummies. Even commoners would adorn their dead with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° arrangements. This is why amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° designs were so popular!