Egyptian Hardstone Heart Amulet

£ 250.00

An Ancient Egyptian hardstone amulet, finely carved in the shape of a heart, known as ‘ib’ in Egyptian hieroglyphs. Taking the form of a jar, the amulet features a rounded triangular body, slighty convex in profile. Two pointed lug handles with slight indentations, creating a stepped effect, protrude from either side. To the top of the long neck is a rectangular lid surmounted by a ribbed, tubular knob. The knob is unperforated, suggesting that the amulet was intended for use on the body during mummification. The hardstone presents with an attractive opaque dark brown colouring, appearing almost black.

Date: Circa 664-332 BC
Period: Late Period
Provenance: From the H.M. Barker private collection, England, U.K.
Condition: Very fine condition. Slight earthly encrustations to the surface. Remnants of a blue adhesive used for mounting by previous owner to the reverse.

In stock

SKU: CF-93 Category: Tags: ,

For the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were not only decorative but also considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. Many amulets have been found inside the wrapping of mummies to ensure a safe journey into the afterlife, but amulets were also used by the living for protection or in order to have their wishes granted. Amulets, depending on their type or form, had different meanings, with small amulets depicting the gods, whether in a human or animal form, thought to have induced protective powers over the wearer.

In Egyptian culture and mythology, the heart was perceived as the most important organ, the seat of intelligence that decided all feelings and actions, housing all the memories of a person. It was believed that the heart was weighed in the afterlife against a feather representing ma’at, an Egyptian concept of truth and justice, at the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony. If their heart weighed the same or less, they were worthy enough to proceed onto the afterlife, but if it weighed more, they were destroyed. These heart amulets would have been worn as protection for the beholder’s in death, used exclusively for mummies, to ensure a positive judgement. The amulet became so important that it was bestowed on every mummy until the end of the Pharaonic Period.

To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings

Weight 1.46 g
Dimensions L 1.7 x W 1.1 cm
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Region

Stone

Reference: For a similar item, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, item 72.1208

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