Egyptian amulets

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The following are amulets that were traditionally included in the tomb or within the swathes of mummies; many of them are also widely used among the living and in frescoes.

Symbol:

Name: Heart

Function: Early in Egyptian history, it replaced the heart which was removed during mummification (the body needed another heart for its new life); sometimes assimilated to the Bennu, "Soul of Râ", it brings the protection of both Osiris and Râ. It would soon take the shape of the Scarab.

Material: Lapis-lazuli, carnelian

Placed: On the heart of the deceased

Other remarks: The shape of the symbol is actually that of the urn which contains the heart, and which can be seen in representations of the Weighing of the Heart (against a feather).

Symbol:

Name: Kheperu or Scarab ("newborn" or "he who rolls")

Function: See the Amulet of the Heart: the scarab had the added power of seemingly giving new life from nothing but itself, and due to its habit of pushing dung balls was the symbol of the invisible power of creation which propels the sun through the skies.

Material: Green basalt, green granite, limestone, green marble, blue paste, blue glass, purple/blue/green glazed porcelain... often set in gold; for some rituals precious stones such as emerald

Placed: On the heart of the deceased

Other remarks: Occasionally the base of the scarab is made in the form of a heart, a fact which proves the closeness of the relationship between the two amulets.

Symbol:

Name: Buckle or Knot of Isis

Function: Brought to the deceased the protection of the blood of Isis, and of her words of power (which raised Osiris from the dead).

Material: Carnelian, red jasper, red glass, and other red materials; sometimes of gold or gold-plated.

Placed: Attached to the neck of the deceased

Other remarks: It represents the buckle of the girdle of Isis, and symbolizes divine love

Symbol:

Name: Djed

Function: Since it represents the backbone (especially that of Osiris), it gave the body the power to reconstitute itself in the Other World -- starting from that most important part of the body which supports it all -- and become a perfect spirit.

Material: Wood, gold

Placed: Laid upon the neck of the deceased

Other remarks

Symbol:

Name: Pillow

Function: "Lift up" and protect the head of the deceased.

Material: Haematite

Placed: Under the neck of the mummy

Other remarks:

Symbol:

Name: Vulture

Function: Bring upon the deceased the protection of Isis as the divine mother, or Mut the Vulture-goddess.

Material: Gold

Placed: On the neck

Other remarks: The amulet is actually in the shape of a vulture with wings outstretched, holding in each talon the Ankh.

Symbol:

Name: Collar of Gold

Function: Give the deceased power to free himself from his swathings

Material: Gold

Placed: On the neck

Other remarks: This amulet is very rare and of a later period (about BC 500)

Symbol:

Name: Papyrus Sceptre

Function: Give the deceased vigour and renewal of youth

Material: Mother-of-emerald, light green/light blue porcelain

Placed: On the neck

Other remarks:

Symbol:

Name: Amulet of the Ba or Soul

Function: Enable the soul both to unite with the mummified body, and to be with its spirit and spiritual body at will.

Material: Gold inlaid with precious stones

Placed: Upon the breast

Other remarks: The human-headed bird is the traditional representation of the ba, or soul, which accompanies the ka, or spirit.

Symbol:

Name: Ladder

Function: Enable the deceased to reach Heaven more easily: the sky of this world was believed to be the floor of Heaven.

Material: Wood and other

Placed: On or near the body

Other remarks:

Symbol:

Name: Amulet of the Two Fingers

Function: Represents the two fingers which Horus used to help his father Osiris up the ladder into Heaven.

Material: Obsidian or haematite

Placed: Inside mummies

Other remarks:

Symbol:

Name: Udjat or Eye of Horus

Function: Bring the blessings of strength, vigour, protection, safety, good health...

Material: Gold, silver, granite, haematite, carnelian, lapis-lazuli, porcelain, wood, mak stone...

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: The eye facing left was white (Sun) and the one facing right was black (Moon). Indeed one eye of Horus was blinded during his fight with Seth, and it is said that this eye became the moon while the other was the sun. It is also called the Eye of Justice.

Symbol:

Name: Ankh

Function: Granting life. All the gods carry it, and suffusing someone with life-force is represented by presenting an Ankh to their mouth.

Material: Various

Placed: As a pendant

Other remarks:
This is no doubt the most important of all Egyptian symbols. I give a detailed explanation of what led up to the creation of this symbol in an article about the world shaping Egyptian beliefs.
Here is an interesting image from the Papyrus of Ani: the Ankh supported by the Djed supports the disk of the Sun (the arms are there to illustrate the action).

Symbol:

Name: Nefer ("beauty", "happiness", "good fortune"...)

Function: Bring the blessings above

Material: Carnelian, red stone, red porcelain, and the like

Placed: As a pendant

Other remarks: Budge says it represents a musical instrument, but everywhere else it is said to represent the heart and aorta.

Symbol:

Name: Amulet of the Serpent's Head

Function: Keep the body from being bitten by snakes in the underworld by means of the power of the great Snake-goddess Isis

Material: Carnelian, red stone, red paste, red jasper

Placed: Anywhere on the body

Other remarks:

Symbol:

Name: Menat

Function: Bring joy and health to the wearer; on the dead, bring the power of life and reproduction to the body.

Material: Bronze, stone, porcelain, and other

Placed: Upon the body

Other remarks: Represents nutrition and strength; I suspect it to be a representation of the stomach or other organ.

Symbol:

Name: Sam ("union")

Function: Obvious?

Material: Lapis lazuli and other hard stones

Placed: At the appropriate place

Other remarks: Represents the phallus and the union of male and female, a part that is erroneously attributed to the Ankh.

Symbol:

Name: Shen

Function: Give life that should endure as long as the sun endures on its orbit.

Material: Lapis lazuli or carnelian

Placed: Upon the body

Other remarks: Represents the sun's orbit, and symbolizes an undefined period of time. You can often see this symbol in the talons of representations of vultures or hawks.

Symbol:

Name: Amulet of the Steps

Function: Similar to the ladder

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: It is also the throne of Osiris: he is often seen seated upon the top of a flight of steps holding his usual symbols of sovereignty.

Symbol:

Name: Heqt or Frog

Function: Transfer to the body the power of resurrection of Heqt the Frog-goddess

Placed: Upon the body

Other remarks: This symbol is also used for the number 100,000

Symbol:

Name: White Crown

Function: Probably authority and reserved for Pharaohs

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: Rare. This is the Crown of the South, or Higher Egypt

Symbol:

Name: Red Crown

Function: Probably authority and reserved for Pharaohs

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: Rare. This is the Crown of the North, or Lower Egypt

Symbol:

Name: Horizon

Function: Not specified

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: Rare. Where the sun rises

Symbol:

Name: Amulet of the Angle

Function: Protection

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: Rare.

Symbol:

Name: Crown of Osiris

Function: Probably authority in the Underworld and reserved for Pharaohs

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks: This crown is most commonly seen worn by Osiris as ruler of the Underworld.

Symbol:

Name: Plummet

Function: Not specified

Placed: Not specified

Other remarks:

Bibliography

. E.A Wallis Budge's Egyptian Magic.

Symbol:
Name:	Heart
Function:	Early in Egyptian history, it replaced the heart which was removed during mummification (the body needed another heart for its new life); sometimes assimilated to the Bennu, "Soul of Râ", it brings the protection of both Osiris and Râ. It would soon take the shape of the Scarab.
Material:	Lapis-lazuli, carnelian
Placed:	On the heart of the deceased
Other remarks:	The shape of the symbol is actually that of the urn which contains the heart, and which can be seen in representations of the Weighing of the Heart (against a feather).

Symbol:
Name:	Kheperu or Scarab ("newborn" or "he who rolls")
Function:	See the Amulet of the Heart: the scarab had the added power of seemingly giving new life from nothing but itself, and due to its habit of pushing dung balls was the symbol of the invisible power of creation which propels the sun through the skies.
Material:	Green basalt, green granite, limestone, green marble, blue paste, blue glass, purple/blue/green glazed porcelain... often set in gold; for some rituals precious stones such as emerald
Placed:	On the heart of the deceased
Other remarks:	Occasionally the base of the scarab is made in the form of a heart, a fact which proves the closeness of the relationship between the two amulets.

Symbol:
Name:	Buckle or Knot of Isis
Function:	Brought to the deceased the protection of the blood of Isis, and of her words of power (which raised Osiris from the dead).
Material:	Carnelian, red jasper, red glass, and other red materials; sometimes of gold or gold-plated.
Placed:	Attached to the neck of the deceased
Other remarks:	It represents the buckle of the girdle of Isis, and symbolizes divine love

Symbol:
Name:	Djed
Function:	Since it represents the backbone (especially that of Osiris), it gave the body the power to reconstitute itself in the Other World -- starting from that most important part of the body which supports it all -- and become a perfect spirit.
Material:	Wood, gold
Placed:	Laid upon the neck of the deceased
Other remarks

Symbol:
Name:	Pillow
Function:	"Lift up" and protect the head of the deceased.
Material:	Haematite
Placed:	Under the neck of the mummy
Other remarks:

Symbol:
Name:	Vulture
Function:	Bring upon the deceased the protection of Isis as the divine mother, or Mut the Vulture-goddess.
Material:	Gold
Placed:	On the neck
Other remarks:	The amulet is actually in the shape of a vulture with wings outstretched, holding in each talon the Ankh.

Symbol:
Name:	Collar of Gold
Function:	Give the deceased power to free himself from his swathings
Material:	Gold
Placed:	On the neck
Other remarks:	This amulet is very rare and of a later period (about BC 500)

Symbol:
Name:	Papyrus Sceptre
Function:	Give the deceased vigour and renewal of youth
Material:	Mother-of-emerald, light green/light blue porcelain
Placed:	On the neck
Other remarks:

Symbol:
Name:	Amulet of the Ba or Soul
Function:	Enable the soul both to unite with the mummified body, and to be with its spirit and spiritual body at will.
Material:	Gold inlaid with precious stones
Placed:	Upon the breast
Other remarks:	The human-headed bird is the traditional representation of the ba, or soul, which accompanies the ka, or spirit.

Symbol:
Name:	Ladder
Function:	Enable the deceased to reach Heaven more easily: the sky of this world was believed to be the floor of Heaven.
Material:	Wood and other
Placed:	On or near the body
Other remarks:

Symbol:
Name:	Amulet of the Two Fingers
Function:	Represents the two fingers which Horus used to help his father Osiris up the ladder into Heaven.
Material:	Obsidian or haematite
Placed:	Inside mummies
Other remarks:

Symbol:
Name:	Udjat or Eye of Horus
Function:	Bring the blessings of strength, vigour, protection, safety, good health...
Material:	Gold, silver, granite, haematite, carnelian, lapis-lazuli, porcelain, wood, mak stone...
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	The eye facing left was white (Sun) and the one facing right was black (Moon). Indeed one eye of Horus was blinded during his fight with Seth, and it is said that this eye became the moon while the other was the sun. It is also called the Eye of Justice.

Symbol:
Name:	Ankh
Function:	Granting life. All the gods carry it, and suffusing someone with life-force is represented by presenting an Ankh to their mouth.
Material:	Various
Placed:	As a pendant
Other remarks:	This is no doubt the most important of all Egyptian symbols. I give a detailed explanation of what led up to the creation of this symbol in an article about the world shaping Egyptian beliefs. Here is an interesting image from the Papyrus of Ani: the Ankh supported by the Djed supports the disk of the Sun (the arms are there to illustrate the action).

Symbol:
Name:	Nefer ("beauty", "happiness", "good fortune"...)
Function:	Bring the blessings above
Material:	Carnelian, red stone, red porcelain, and the like
Placed:	As a pendant
Other remarks:	Budge says it represents a musical instrument, but everywhere else it is said to represent the heart and aorta.

Symbol:
Name:	Amulet of the Serpent's Head
Function:	Keep the body from being bitten by snakes in the underworld by means of the power of the great Snake-goddess Isis
Material:	Carnelian, red stone, red paste, red jasper
Placed:	Anywhere on the body
Other remarks:

Symbol:
Name:	Menat
Function:	Bring joy and health to the wearer; on the dead, bring the power of life and reproduction to the body.
Material:	Bronze, stone, porcelain, and other
Placed:	Upon the body
Other remarks:	Represents nutrition and strength; I suspect it to be a representation of the stomach or other organ.

Symbol:
Name:	Sam ("union")
Function:	Obvious?
Material:	Lapis lazuli and other hard stones
Placed:	At the appropriate place
Other remarks:	Represents the phallus and the union of male and female, a part that is erroneously attributed to the Ankh.

Symbol:
Name:	Shen
Function:	Give life that should endure as long as the sun endures on its orbit.
Material:	Lapis lazuli or carnelian
Placed:	Upon the body
Other remarks:	Represents the sun's orbit, and symbolizes an undefined period of time. You can often see this symbol in the talons of representations of vultures or hawks.

Symbol:
Name:	Amulet of the Steps
Function:	Similar to the ladder
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	It is also the throne of Osiris: he is often seen seated upon the top of a flight of steps holding his usual symbols of sovereignty.

Symbol:
Name:	Heqt or Frog
Function:	Transfer to the body the power of resurrection of Heqt the Frog-goddess
Placed:	Upon the body
Other remarks:	This symbol is also used for the number 100,000

Symbol:
Name:	White Crown
Function:	Probably authority and reserved for Pharaohs
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	Rare. This is the Crown of the South, or Higher Egypt

Symbol:
Name:	Red Crown
Function:	Probably authority and reserved for Pharaohs
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	Rare. This is the Crown of the North, or Lower Egypt

Symbol:
Name:	Horizon
Function:	Not specified
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	Rare. Where the sun rises

Symbol:
Name:	Amulet of the Angle
Function:	Protection
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	Rare.

Symbol:
Name:	Crown of Osiris
Function:	Probably authority in the Underworld and reserved for Pharaohs
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks:	This crown is most commonly seen worn by Osiris as ruler of the Underworld.

Symbol:
Name:	Plummet
Function:	Not specified
Placed:	Not specified
Other remarks: