The ‘Wedjat’, or Eye of Horus, was an ancient symbol of protection, particularly for the afterlife, and was also used to deflect evil. There are six key parts to the Eye of Horus and each has its own value: the eyebrow represents thought; the pupil stands for sight; the triangle between the pupil and the white of the eye is hearing, whereas the white of the eye is smell; the spiral curve, or tail, represents taste; and the teardrop is touch. Amulets in this shape were very popular in ancient Egypt, from the Old Kingdom to Roman times. They were worn by the living and also buried with the dead, as their apotropaic significance suited both.
Thutmose III (c. 1479–1425 BCE) was a powerful pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, known as the “Napoleon of Egypt” for expanding the empire through numerous successful military campaigns in the Near East, establishing Egypt’s greatest territorial reach. He was a skilled warrior, sportsman, and builder, leaving behind significant monuments, including additions to Karnak Temple, and a legacy of military innovation and imperial power. Thutmose III scarab inscriptions primarily feature his throne name (prenomen), Menkheperre, as a powerful protective and regenerative symbol. Scarabs bearing his name were immensely popular and produced for over a thousand years after his reign due to his venerated status as a great warrior pharaoh. This amulet type is very stylistically typical of the New Kingdom, thus most likely implies that it was made during the reign of Thutmose III and not after.
To discover more about Egyptian amulets, please visit our relevant blog post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.
