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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1989.3.20 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1989.3.20 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1989.3.20 

Bes Amulet

Egyptian Faience (Ceramic) 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1981.1.35

Bes Scarab

Unglazed Stone

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1990.1.13z

Fragment of a Woman

Terracotta 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1988.14.12 

Isis and Horus

Wood; traces of plaster or gesso and gilt remain

Egypt, ca. 1550-1070 BCE

This small Egyptian figure depicts Isis, the goddess of motherhood and healing, 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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1990.1.11 

Seated Male Phallic Amulet

Egyptian Faience (Ceramic) 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1994.4.61 

Taweret

Egyptian Faience (Ceramic) 

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1981.1.34 

Udjat Eye

Egyptian Faience (Ceramic)

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.

Copy of the original from the IEAA Collection, 1989.3.39