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The first examples of amulets appeared in Ancient Egypt as early as 4000
B.C. Believed to possess magical powers that protected the wearer or
bestowed upon the properties they symbolized, amulets were worn both by
the living as well as the dead. Throughout their evolution, talismans were
crafted from a variety of materials including precious metals such as gold
and silver, semiprecious stone like jasper and carnelian, as well as other
more affordable glazed compositions such as faience. The particular powers
of an individual amulet were based upon its specific shape, although the
material and even the color of the charm could affect its magical abilities.
While many of the amulets created to be worn by the living could also be
worn after death, there also existed a specific group of charms that were
made specifically to be placed upon the mummified remains of the
deceased. All together, amulets represent an important class of Ancient
Egyptian art that furthers our understanding of their complex religious
beliefs.
A mythological composite creature that first appeared during the 4th
Dynasty, the sphinx is one of the most iconic compositions in Ancient
Egyptian art. Featuring the body of a recumbent lion and the head of a king,
sphinxes symbolize royal strength.
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