For the Ancient Egyptians, amulets were not only decorative but also considered to bestow power and protection upon the wearer. 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, depending on their type or form, had different meanings, with small amulets depicting the gods, whether in a human or animal form, thought to have induced protective powers over the wearer.
The goddess Bastet was considered to be the daughter of Ra, the sun god, and was originally shown with the features of a lion up until about 1000 BC when she started being portrayed as a cat or human with a cat head. The maternal, protective and hunting characteristics of the cat were the most obvious in Bastet and she is seen as a protector of pregnant women and young children. Amulets in the shape of Bastet would have been worn particularly by women not only to place themselves under the patronage of the goddess, but also in the hope that the wearer might be endowed with the goddess’ fecundity.
Most Egyptian gold featured percentages of other metals, occurring naturally when mined. The result was often a variation in colour from pale to deep yellow, to reddish gold.
To discover more about amulets in the Ancient Egyptian world, please visit our relevant post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.
