The Egyptians wore amulets alongside other pieces of jewellery. They were decorative, but also served a practical purpose, being considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. As a hieroglyph, ‘nefer’, phonogram nfr, writes as “good”, “beautiful” and “happy”, suggesting its amuletic form was meant to bestow positive affirmations on the wearer. This particular amulet was common in open-work collars from the 18th Dynasty; many gold examples have been retrieved from the burial of the wives of Tuthmosis III, as well as from pit 55 in the Valley of the Kings.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.
