Tag: amulet

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarab Amulets

The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were said to be the most powerful of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because the the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the dung beetle (which the scarab was fashioned after) was capable of eternal regeneration. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun 𓇳𓏺, and was usually depicted as a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, or as a human body with a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 for a head 𓁢𓏺! Due to his ties with the sun 𓇳𓏺, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be an aspect of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛!

The god π“ŠΉ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes a β€œlife cycle” – birth, death, and then rebirth in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife).

One of the best things about the MET are these little galleries that are offshoots of the main galleries – there are some real treasures (such as this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 display) hidden away here! Honestly I love these little galleries more than the main areas – it’s almost like having a private museum!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Taweret

Here are some faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her!

While the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means β€œthe great (female) one!” That is certainly a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that suits her!

While many amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life. The family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was an incredibly important feature not only in daily life π“‹Ή, but in religious observances as well. The amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓄿𓏏𓁐π“ͺ at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wepwawet

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is not the only jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯-headed god π“ŠΉ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and it can be easy to get some of them confused because they look similar! Even in ancient texts Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 can be confused with each other but they are separate deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! This is a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the god π“ŠΉ Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧! While the head is cut off, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is in front of Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 on this piece!

This piece was likely used in a royal procession, as Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 was one of the symbols carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during certain rituals/ceremonies. Wepwawet’s π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œopener of the ways,” and he was even associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯! This is probably why he was carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions!

Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– and is likely the oldest god π“ŠΉ associated with the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯! Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆒𓍋 Palette π“π“Šƒπ“π“†±! Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

There are a couple of different variations of Wepwawet’s π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:
𓃧
π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧
π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓁒

The first way the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written is just the determinative symbol, while the other two 𓏻 ways show the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– spelled out the same, but the determinative at the end is different!

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Winged Scarab

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is a large faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† that consists of three 𓏼 separate pieces; the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 itself and the two 𓏻 wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ that go on either side. These amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were placed usually on the chest of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and sometimes were even sewn into the beaded shrouds that would cover the wrapped mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 in the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. There are even holes in the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to allow for them to be attached securely! Most of the time, the pieces were integrated right into the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages just like the other funerary amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ. I love this type of amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† so much!

The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ are not those fo a beetle, but are actually the wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ of a bird! The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ allowed the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ religion! As a god π“ŠΉ who was constantly reborn, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was associated with resurrection!

Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is the god π“ŠΉ that is associated with scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and he is the god π“ŠΉ of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺 in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The name β€œ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛” is pronounced pretty much the same as β€œscarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣” even though they are spelled differently!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are also the four Sons of Horus amulets, which I have posted about previously! The four Sons of Horus were usually placed below the winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like in this display!

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 also showed up in the Marvel show Moon Knight a lot! What did you think of Layla’s outfit in the last episode?!?! I loved it! If I was a superhero I would want that to be my costume!!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Ra-Horakhty, Amun, and Taweret

I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are no exception! Here are three 𓏼 beautiful π“„€ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗!

Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is considered by historians to be Egypt’s most important deity π“ŠΉ. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is an ancient deity π“ŠΉ who combined with many different solar and cosmic gods throughout Egyptian history. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun π“…ƒπ“ˆŒπ“π“­π“€­. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and depictions of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ became more prominent during the Late Period.

Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered to be one of the most important gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon and was first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts. Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ had many different roles and was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a creator god, solar god, fertility god, warrior god, and king of the gods. Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered the β€œuniversal god” meaning that his power permeated the cosmos and all that the cosmos contained!

While the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means β€œthe great (female) one!” That is certainly a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that suits her!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

I love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things!!!

Many gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that usually had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– triads during the Late Period was Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (β€œMistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ (god π“ŠΉ of the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler π“‹Ύ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–), and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of healing and magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ).

Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife π“ˆŸπ“ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† is representative of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.