These three deities make up the Osirian triad, which was very popular during the 26th Dynasty, from the great myth in Egyptian funerary religion. Horus, the young boy in the centre, was the son of Osiris. His uncle Seth tried to kill him in order to become king of the gods, but Horus was saved by the magical skill and cunning of his mother, Isis. Nepthys, Horus’ aunt, aided her sister in his escape. Because both goddesses were magicians, they were excellent protectors of the vulnerable mummy. Amulets such as this were generally placed on the lower torso of the deceased. Depictions of deities in amulet form also had widespread popularity for many thousands of years in ancient Egypt, as it was a common way of invoking the assistance or protection of a particular god. The nature of this assistance can often be determined by the gods’ particular spheres of influence.
To discover more about amulets in the Ancient Egyptian world, please visit our relevant post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.