Despite the fact that the Egyptians did not have access to the medical knowledge we have today, they were aware of the importance of the heart in the functioning of the body. This led to beliefs that the heart was the source of wisdom and emotion, and heart symbolism became an important part of Egyptian culture. Perhaps most significant was its role in the ‘Weighing of the Heart’ ceremony, where the hearts of the dead were weighed against the feather of Ma’at to ascertain the purity and virtue of the deceased and decide their destination in the afterlife. These heart amulets would have been worn as protection for the beholder’s in death, used exclusively for mummies. The amulet became so important that it was bestowed on every mummy until the end of the Pharaonic Period.
Carnelian was held in high regard by the ancient Egyptians as protective or healing stone, and appeared in ancient artefacts to signify Ra (the sun), and other powers or forces. As such and as recommended as the ideal material by the Book of the Dead, many heart amulets were fashioned from this semi-precious stone.
To discover more about the Egyptian ‘Weighing of the Heart’ ceremony, please visit our relevant blog post: The Egyptian Ceremony of the Weighing of the Heart.