Amulet

Date1550 BC-395 AD

MediumFaience

DimensionsObject/Work: 20 x 14 mm

ClassificationsReligious/Ritual Equipment

Terms

Object numberC07032

DescriptionAmulet in the form of the heart. The Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for the heart (upon which the amulet is based) looks simiar to an urn with the blood vessels forming handles to either side. Heart-amulets were often prescribed as green due to the association of the colour with vegetation and regeneration.

The Egyptians believed that the heart was the most important organ in the body as the source of a persons soul. It was also an important part of the 'weighing of the heart' ceremony in the afterlife, where it was judged if the deceased was worthy of entering the afterlife or should be erased from existence - a fate feared by the Egyptians. For this reason the heart was left inside the body when mummified. Heart amulets were often placed inside the wrappings of a mummy to replace the heart in case of decay.

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