AmuLET Me Tell You!
Amulets of Power and Protection In Ancient Egypt
With the generous help of the Art Museum of the University of Memphis, Dr. Chrystal Goudsouzian's HIST 4057: Women and Power in Ancient Egypt class 3D scanned and photographed amulets and statuettes in the museum's Ancient Egyptian Collection. Students 3D printed, painted, and installed their model objects in an exhibit case. You can see the mini-exhibit in the lobby of Mitchell Hall and use the information below to learn more about each object they worked with and researched. Be sure to go see the originals and more Egyptian art at the campus art museum, just across from McWherter Library!
Anubis Amulet
Egyptian Faience (Ceramic)
Egypt, ca. 1070-322 BCE
The jackal god Anubis was a protector of mummification and burial in ancient Egypt. Due to jackals’ tendencies to frequent burial grounds looking for a meal, these canids became associated with the dead and burial in ancient Egypt. Wearing an Anubis-shaped amulet in death called on the god’s power, ensuring the deceased’s body would be preserved and safe for the journey to the afterlife.
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| IEAA Collection, 1989.3.20 | 3D Printed Model |
Bes Amulet
Giza, Egypt, ca. 712-332 BCE
Bes was a household god of fertility and protection in ancient Egypt. The diminutive deity was primarily called on by the Egyptians to ensure the safety of women and children. Bes was depicted as a front-facing dwarf with lion-like ears and a protruding tongue or phallus. His aggressive stance was thought to ward off enemies, offering those who wore his amulet protection from the evil eye, demons, and the dead.
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| IEAA Collection, 1981.1.35 | 3D Printed Model |
Bes Scarab
Egypt, ca. 1070-712 BCE
Scarab beetles were a symbol of creation and rebirth in ancient Egypt. This unglazed stone scarab is incised with three standing figures resembling the defensive deity Bes. Bes was a household deity believed to guard women and children against threats from both the physical and spiritual realms. The presence of Bes on this scarab may indicate its function as an amulet for personal protection.
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IEAA Collection, 1990.1.13 |
3D Printed Model |
Fragment of a Woman
Kom Rabi’a, Egypt, ca. 1196-1070 BCE
This object is the top half of a molded terracotta female figure, found broken. The original piece likely depicted a woman’s whole body. Figures of this type were used to induce and protect women’s fertility in ancient Egypt. Found in domestic and funerary contexts, these powerful objects were believed to promote fecundity in both the realms of the living and the dead.
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| IEAA Collection, 1988.14.12 | 3D Printed Model |
Isis and Horus
Egypt, ca. 1550-1070 BCE
This small Egyptian figure depicts Isis, the archetypal goddess of motherhood, nursing her son Horus, the god of the sky. Seated on a throne with the infant Horus resting on her knee, Isis offered protection, nurture, and divine care. Figurines like this one were used in temples and homes as symbols of maternal devotion and protection.
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| IEAA Collection, 1990.1.11 | 3D Printed Model |
Seated Male Phallic Amulet
Egypt, ca. 712 BCE – 395 CE
This erotic amulet portrays a seated male; his large phallus is extended in front of him. In ancient Egypt, the phallus was a symbol of regeneration, creation, and masculine virility. Amulets of this type were worn in daily life to promote fertility and virility and to ward off impotence. In the afterlife, these amulets could be buried with the deceased to ensure regeneration and the continuation of sexual vitality.
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| IEAA Collection, 1994.4.61 | 3D Printed Model |
Taweret
Giza, Egypt, ca. 712-332 BCE
Taweret, meaning “The Great One,” was a powerful protective goddess in ancient Egypt. She was associated with fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and the safeguarding of women and children. Taweret was typically depicted with the body of a hippopotamus, the paws of a lioness, the tail of a crocodile, and human-like breasts. Amulets of Taweret could be worn or placed in homes as a source of domestic protection and divine blessing.
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| IEAA Collection, 1981.1.34 | 3D Printed Model |
Udjat Eye
Egypt, ca. 712-332 BCE
The udjat eye, or Eye of Horus, was a powerful symbol of healing, regeneration, and protection in ancient Egypt. Amulets of the udjat eye were widely used in both daily life and in funerary practices. In life, the eye could be worn as a protective talisman to ward off evil and harm. Udjat eye amulets could also be placed with mummies to ensure wholeness and well-being in the afterlife.
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| IEAA Collection, 1989.3.39 | 3D Printed Model |
Note: All student essays have been edited and revised by Dr. Goudsouzian.