For the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were not only decorative but also utilitarian as an apotropaic force. 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 had different meanings depending on their type or form, and small amulets depicting the gods, whether in a human or animal form, were thought to induce protective powers over the wearer.
Amun-Ra was a highly important deity in the Egyptian pantheon. Originally worshipped as two gods, Amun, the creator of the universe, and Ra, the sun-god, the syncretic Amun-Ra gained national and spiritual importance following the defeat of the Hyksos in the 16th Century. He became the king of the gods and his worship was almost monotheistic in nature. By the New Kingdom Period, he was seen as the champion of the poor, Protector of the Road, upholding Ma’at, justice, truth, and goodness. He retained this importance throughout the New Kingdom Period, and even into the Ptolemaic period, identifying with the Greek pantheon to form the identity Zeus-Ammon. Alexander the Great claimed divine descent as the son of Zeus-Ammon, with tradition of currency depicting Alexander with the Horns of Ammon continuing for centuries.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets, please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings
To discover more about religious syncretisms in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: Religious Syncretisms in the Ancient Mediterranean Region