tour 11 of 12
Mummy: The Inside Story
Amulets
Amulets were an important way of giving a
person special powers or protection. They were worn by the living
and were often placed on the bodies of the dead, within mummy
wrappings. Several are visible within Nesperennub's
bandages. These small images or figurines were usually made of
stone, metal or glazed ceramic, and their power was supposed to
reside in their shape, their colour, the material they were made
from, and any magical texts inscribed on them or spoken over them.
The position of the amulets was also important; many were placed on
the neck and upper body, regarded by the Egyptians as the most
vulnerable area.
The amulet
shown here is a 'heart scarab'. Usually carved from
dark green or black stone, these represent the scarab beetle - a
manifestation of the sun god and a symbol of the renewal of life.
The scans show what is probably a 'heart scarab',
close to Nesperennub's right collar bone. On the chest is a
pectoral, probably made of sheet metal, in the form of outspread
wings. Just below the winged pectoral is an object resembling a
sheaf of papyrus plants bound together in the form of a tall
column, or sceptre. This amulet is usually made of greenish glazed
faience, symbolizing new life by association with the growth of
plants. Another group of small amulets cluster at
Nesperennub's throat, including a
djed
pillar and a
wedjat
eye. There are also what appear to be two squatting figures, which
may represent a deity such as the air-god Shu.