New collection of amulets published online
The Museo Egizio recently published online a corpus of 1,927 amulets, magical objects used for the protection of those who possessed them.
Amulets were used by ancient Egyptians in both life and death. They were shaped in different forms, drawn from the world and the surrounding universe, such as animals, cosmic and natural elements, deities, symbols, objects or royal insignia. They are made of a variety of materials, mostly faïence (glazed ceramic pottery), but also ivory, wood, bone, bronze, clay, wax, Egyptian blue, or semiprecious stones. Museo Egizio's amulets arrived in the museum's collection at different times, mainly through purchases and donations, with only a small portion coming from the sites of Heliopolis, Ashmunein, Giza, and the Valley of the Queens.
These artifacts are currently the subject of an extensive research project at Museo Egizio. The project aims to analyze findings and revise existing data, as well as their integration and normalization. It provides a valuable opportunity to share this heritage with the public and the entire scientific community, and reminds us that there can be no care for heritage without research.
Click HERE to explore the collection.
Amulet depicting the god Harpocrates. Inventory number: Cat. 417. Blue faïence; 7 x 2 x 1.5 cm; 722-332 BCE